Members of the Negros Farmers Council met with Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Grace Fua Tuesday, about their opposition to Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary, Nasser Pangandaman's reversal of a decision made by then Secretary Ernesto Garilao on case involving Don Gaspar Vicente Inc.

The group who held a three-day camp-in in front of the DAR Office, in Barangay Bantayan, Dumaguete City cited the act of Pangandaman in lifting the Notice of Coverage, and granting DGVI its application for land conversion.

Fua said she cannot question the decision of the secretary, and, her office only implements his orders.

She said she feels that it is “nice” to be reminded of the things that might not have been done, but added that “We must realize that what we aspire together with the non-government and people's organizations is only one.”

She said the only difference is that DAR is a government agency and has responsibility over land distribution.

DAR Negros Oriental is neither driving farmers out nor annoyed by the campers but said, they must understand that some of the issues are not within their power to resolve, Fua said.

The dialog also tackled the landholdings of Barangays La Paz and Hangyad, Bais City; former Sycip Plantation Co. in Manjuyod; Catalino Noel in Nangka, Bayawan; Felix Montenegro in Manjuyod; and Sarah Montilla (Sugar Farms) in Guihulngan.

With Fua at the discussion were municipal agrarian reform officers Algerico Navarro (Bais), Hanani Quijote (Vallehermoso); Elvira Bation (Manjuyod); Sherwin Tubog ( Bayawan); CARPO for Operations Tessie Corpuz, Chief Legal Officer Louie Naranjo; OIC PARO I Pacifico Quindo, Jr. and Provincial Quick Response Officer Aileen Alaban.

Fua also said that the DAR is trying its very best to help the farmer beneficiaries in all other cases raised before her office.*RG

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