Strict implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement signed among the agrarian reform beneficiaries and the Department of Agrarian Reform will solve the present land dispute in Hacienda Carmenchika, Pontevedra, Mayor Jose Maria Alonso (not Jose Benito as earlier reported) said yesterday.

He said the original members of the Workers Amalgamated Union of the Philippines in a dialog yesterday with representatives from DAR and the Social Action Center , insisted that the MOA which calls for land scheming and individual survey for all ARBs should be implemented.

The survey will cover the entire landholding that was distributed to members of WAUP, Task Force Mapalad, and the Negros Center for People Empowerment and Rural Development, records from the provincial DAR office showed.

Alonso said the individual survey as provided by the MOA is the only way to resolve the problem and allow for a peaceful installation of “breakaway” members of WAUP.

He added that the local government of Pontevedra also favors the call for individual survey since this can result to an effective tax collection from the ARBs.

Earlier, PARO Teresita Depeñoso said her office had reviewed the MOA and found some technical lapses that were overlooked in 2003 when DAR installed the ARBs organized by WAUP, NCPERD, and TFM.

Adding to the problem she said, was the failure of WAUP to furnish DAR with a copy of the agri-venture agreement of its member ARBs which the “breakaway” group is questioning now.

Depeñoso said it was unfair for WAUP to deprive the members of the land due to them after they decided to severe ties with the union.

She added that DAR has conducted a series of negotiations with all parties concerned and they came up with the decision to install the more than 30 members of the “breakaway” group based on the Certificate of Land Ownership and Award they received from DAR in 2003.

While land scheming and individual survey is being implemented, she said the former WAUP members should be given the chance to cultivate the piece of land given to them.

Meanwhile, Alonso said he was inclined to distance himself from the issue as his impartiality is under question since he used to be connected with the original owner of the Carmenchika landholding.

However, he said Depeñoso told him that the concerned parties are his constituents in Pontevedra and he plays an important role in negotiating with all the parties concerned. *NAB

back to top