Tacloban City (November 26) -- There is no more turning back in the fulfillment of the promise for an equitable landownership under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations for the amended version or the Republic Act No. 9700.

DAR 8 Regional Director John Maruhom made the pronouncements as he required all officials and employees of DAR Eastern Visayas to undergo an orientation on the RA 9700 guidelines, early this month, "for uniform interpretation" of the same.

Director Maruhom directed Assistant Regional Directors Reynaldo Villas and Antonio Tan together with Atty. Geronimo Peque, Chief of the Legal Division who attended the orientation conducted by the DAR central office in Manila, to immediately re-echo the same to the other DAR officials and staff in the region.

Mr. Al Smith Soria, DAR 8 Regional Information Officer informed that given emphasis in the orientation were the amendments DAR has to strictly follow.

Under the new law the agency has to accomplish the remaining balance on land acquisition and distribution based on the scheduled phasing according to the size of landholdings within the next five years.

Field implementers also must strictly follow the process in the acquisition of landholdings and in the identification of potential beneficiaries.

Under the new guidelines, identified potential beneficiaries by DAR must first be certified by the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) and attested by the concerned landowner for authenticity prior to its final identification.

Participation of women in different organizations related to agrarian reform program implementation was also stressed.

Undersecretary Renato Herrera who was present to answer critical questions, advised concerned personnel to strictly follow the guidelines.

Also present during the orientation were representatives from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Registry of Deeds (ROD) who were invited due to their vital roles in the documentation process and registration of the certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs).

According to Director Maruhom, it is very important that these line agencies must also have the same interpretation to avoid delay in the accomplishment of our target.