MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)--The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-10 is now in preparation to fully implement the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA) in the region for its Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

Approved on July 7, 2023, the Republic Act No. 11953, otherwise known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, is a law that aims to condone all principal loans, unpaid amortization, and exempting payment of estate tax on agricultural land awarded under the comprehensive agrarian reform program. 

“Kining Republic Act 11953 is the emancipation of our agrarian reform beneficiaries from financial obligation or burden. Kadtong mga unpaid balances or obligations sa atong mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, i-condone na siya. (Those unpaid balances or obligations of our agrarian reform beneficiaries are already gone)," said DAR-10 Regional Director Zoraida O. Macadindang, Al Hadj, JD.

She explained that all debts, including the penalties, interest, surcharges, or any other payments related to the awarded land under PD 27, Republic Act 6657, Executive Order 228, as amended by EO 9700, and any agrarian laws, have been condoned.

Macadindang clarified that the condonation payables for agrarian reform lands are only for the unpaid amortization or balances under the Land Bank of the Philippines. It does not include those made through a personal loan, such as a mortgaged land. 

She emphasized that the amortizations for condonation are those acquired from July 24 this year til backward dates.

According to DAR-10, the list of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) has already been identified based on the list provided by the Land Bank of the Philippines, which includes the respective amounts of their payables. 

The department said there are approximately 5,888 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the region to benefit from the program.

CONDRAD implementation

To ensure a smooth implementation of the new law, DAR-10 will establish a Condonation Response Action Desk (CONRAD) in the region and respective provincial offices to assist all ARBs as they process their papers and requirements for them to avail of the Emancipation Act.

Aside from the assistance and information dissemination of the new law, personnel of various provincial agrarian reform field officers will conduct a house-to-house visit for verification and profiling of the beneficiaries and make sure that all ARBs are informed of the program offered by the government.

“The moment we receive the list from the Office of the Secretary, we will disseminate it to the provinces so they can then identify the names of the ARBs. Then, the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) will look for the ARBs location,” Macadindang said.

Currently, the DARPOs in the region are done with the orientation of their personnel in their respective municipalities and component cities. They are waiting for the guidelines so that they can proceed with the implementation of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.

DAR-10 urges their beneficiaries to visit the nearest DARPO office in their area and avail of the Emancipation Act. 

"The CONRAD Centers are willing and always ready to assist them," the DAR-10 director said. (JAKA/PIA10)