MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) -- Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Delfin Lorenzana turned over the deed of transfer of a portion of government-owned military reservation formerly known as Camp Keithley to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of DAR, the military reservation will be distributed to identified Marawi farmers.

“For a couple of years, DAR worked hard to delimit the area that will be distributed and today I’m going to formally turn over the deed of transfer of more than 4,000 hectares [of land],” said Lorenzana during the culmination program for the 4th anniversary of Marawi Liberation.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnessed the said turnover.

The DND chief also shared how the President gave him an order in 2017 to work on the distribution of the military reservation.

DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla received that deed of transfer from Lorenzana.

To recall, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 75 directing all government instrumentalities to identify idle lands owned by the government suitable for agricultural purposes which will be distributed to qualified beneficiaries.
 
This military reservation is composed of 6,667 hectares and based on EO 75 and after the initial survey of DAR, 4,000 hectares of land will be distributed to the qualified beneficiaries in Marawi, Marantao, Piagapo, and Saguiaran towns in Lanao del Sur.

Camp Keithley is a former military base of the United States of America that was built during the start of the Philippine-American War in the early part of the 20th century. By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 453 of former President Elpidio Quirino, the 6,667-hectare area was converted into a military reserve on December 23, 1953. (LELA/ PIA Lanao del Sur)