Unpaid Emancipation Patents (EPs) may be cancelled

The Philippine Supreme Court said that an Emancipation Patent (EP) title may be cancelled for violations of agrarian laws, rules and regulations (Mago vs. Barbin, G.R. No. 173923, October 12, 2009). 

THIRD DIVISION

 [G.R. No. 173923.  October 12, 2009.]

 PEDRO MAGO (deceased), represented by his spouse SOLEDAD MAGO, AUGUSTO MAGO (deceased), represented by his spouse NATIVIDAD MAGO, and ERNESTO MAGO, represented by LEVI MAGO, petitioners, vs. JUANA Z. BARBIN, respondent.

 DECISION

CARPIO, J p:

The Case

        This is a petition for review 1 of the Decision 2 dated 20 October 2005 and the Resolution dated 13 July 2006 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 87370. 

 The Facts

        On 11 November 1994, respondent Juana Z. Barbin filed with the Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD) of Camarines Norte an action for Cancellation of Emancipation Patents, Disqualification of Tenant-Beneficiary, Repossession and Damages. Respondent alleged that she is the owner in fee simple of an irrigated riceland located in Barangay Guinacutan, Vinzons, Camarines Norte, with an area of 4.7823 hectares, and that Augusto Mago, Crispin Mago, Ernesto Mago, and Pedro Mago were tenants of the subject landholding. Respondent further alleged that petitioners violated the terms of their leasehold contracts when they failed to pay lease rentals for more than two years, which is a ground for their dispossession of the landholding.

        On the other hand, petitioners alleged that the subject landholding was placed under the Operation Land Transfer program of the government pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 27 (PD 27). 3 Respondent's title, OCT No. P-4672, was then cancelled and the subject landholding was transferred to Augusto Mago, 4 Crispin Mago, 5 Ernesto Mago, 6 and Pedro Mago, 7 who were issued Emancipation Patents on 20 February 1987 by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The Transfer Certificates of Title issued to petitioners 8 emanating from the Emancipation Patents were registered with the Registry of Deeds on 9 February 1989. Petitioners averred that prior to the issuance of the Emancipation Patents, they already delivered their lease rentals to respondent. They further alleged that after the issuance of the Emancipation patents, the subject landholding ceased to be covered by any leasehold contract.

        In a Decision 9 dated 30 January 1997, the PARAD denied the petition for lack of merit. The PARAD found that in her petition for retention and exemption from the coverage of the Operation Land Transfer, and cancellation of Certificates of Land Transfer, filed before the DAR, respondent admitted that aside from the 6.7434 hectares of riceland, she also owns other agricultural lands with an aggregate of 16.8826 hectares consisting of "cocolands". The PARAD held that the subject landholding is clearly covered by the Operation Land Transfer under Letter of Instruction No. 474 (LOI 474). 10 Under LOI 474, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos directed the Secretary of Agrarian Reform to place under the Land Transfer Program of the government pursuant to PD 27 all tenanted rice/corn lands with areas of seven hectares or less belonging to landowners who own other agricultural lands of more than seven hectares in aggregate areas or lands used for residential, commercial, industrial or other urban purposes from which they derive adequate income to support themselves and their families.    HDATCc

       The PARAD further held that pursuant to DAR Memorandum Circular No. 6, series of 1978, payment of lease rentals to landowners covered by the Operation Land Transfer shall terminate on the date the value of the land is established. Thus, the PARAD held that the proper recourse of respondent is to file a claim for just compensation.

        On appeal, the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) reversed and set aside the PARAD Decision. The dispositive portion of the DARAB Decision dated 18 June 2004 reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Decision dated 30 January 1997 is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE and a new judgment is hereby entered:

1.      ORDERING the Register of Deeds of Camarines Norte to cancel EP Nos. 745, 747, and 749 issued in the name of Augusto Mago, Ernesto Mago, and Pedro Mago respectively, and

2.      DIRECTING the Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, to reallocate the subject lands to qualified beneficiaries.

SO ORDERED. 11

        The DARAB held that when the subject landholding was placed under the Operation Land Transfer, the tenancy relationship between the parties ceased and the tenant-beneficiaries were no longer required to pay lease rentals to the landowner. However, when petitioners entered into an agreement with respondent for a direct payment scheme embodied in the Deeds of Transfer, petitioners obligated themselves to pay their amortizations to respondent who is the landowner. The DARAB found that except for Crispin Mago, who had fully paid his tillage, petitioners defaulted in their obligation to pay their amortization for more than three consecutive years from the execution of the Deeds of Transfer in July 1991. Under DAR Administrative Order No. 2, series of 1994, one of the grounds for cancellation of registered Emancipation Patents is when there is default in the obligation to pay an aggregate of three consecutive amortizations in case of direct payment schemes. Thus, the DARAB ruled that the cancellation of the Emancipation Patents issued to petitioners is warranted in this case.

        Petitioners filed a motion for reconsideration, which the DARAB denied for lack of merit. Petitioners then appealed to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed the DARAB Decision and thereafter denied petitioners' motion for reconsideration. Hence, this petition.

 The Court of Appeals' Ruling

        The Court of Appeals held that the mere issuance of an Emancipation Patent to a qualified farmer-beneficiary is not absolute and can be attacked anytime upon showing of any irregularity in its issuance or non-compliance with the conditions attached to it. The Emancipation Patent is subject to the condition that amortization payments be remitted promptly to the landowner and that failure to comply with this condition is a ground for cancellation under DAR Administrative Order No. 02, series of 1994. The Court of Appeals found that petitioners failed to comply with this condition since petitioners failed to prove that they have remitted the amortizations due to the landowner in accordance with their agreed direct payment scheme embodied in the Deeds of Transfer.    cHaADC

The Issues

        Petitioners contend that:

1. THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN FINDING THE PETITIONERS LIABLE FOR VIOLATING DAR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 02, SERIES OF 1994;

2.  THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE HONORABLE DAR ADJUDICATOR IN ORDERING THE CANCELLATION OF THE EMANCIPATION TITLES ISSUED TO THE PETITIONERS-FARMER BENEFICIARIES DESPITE THE LAPSE OF ONE (1) YEAR WHICH RENDERS THE SAID TITLES INDEFEASIBLE PURSUANT TO THE LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE;

3.  THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN NOT CONSIDERING THE RECEIPTS EVIDENCING PAYMENTS OF THE DISPUTED AMORTIZATION WHICH WERE FORMALLY OFFERED AND CONSIDERED BY THE HONORABLE DAR PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR OF CAMARINES NORTE (PARAD) IN DECIDING THE CASE AS SHOWN IN THE DECISION DATED JANUARY 30, 1997. 12

The Ruling of the Court

        We find the petition without merit.

        Petitioners argue that the Emancipation Patents and Transfer Certificates of Title issued to them which were already registered with the Register of Deeds have already become indefeasible and can no longer be cancelled.

        We do not adhere to petitioners' view. This Court has already ruled that the mere issuance of an emancipation patent does not put the ownership of the agrarian reform beneficiary beyond attack and scrutiny. 13 Emancipation patents issued to agrarian reform beneficiaries may be corrected and cancelled for violations of agrarian laws, rules and regulations. In fact, DAR Administrative Order No. 02, series of 1994, which was issued in March 1994, enumerates the grounds for cancellation of registered Emancipation Patents or Certificates of Landownership Award:

Grounds for the cancellation of registered EPs [Emancipation Patents] or CLOAs [Certificates of Landownership Award] may include but not be limited to the following:

1.      Misuse or diversion of financial and support services extended to the ARB [Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries]; (Section 37 of R.A. No. 6657)    HDIATS

2.      Misuse of the land; (Section 22 of R.A. No. 6657)

3.      Material misrepresentation of the ARB's basic qualifications as provided under Section 22 of R.A. No. 6657, P.D. No. 27, and other agrarian laws;

4.      Illegal conversion by the ARB; (Cf. Section 73, Paragraphs C and E of R.A. No. 6657)

5.      Sale, transfer, lease or other forms of conveyance by a beneficiary of the right to use or any other usufructuary right over the land acquired by virtue of being a beneficiary, in order to circumvent the provisions of Section 73 of R.A. No. 6657, P.D. No. 27, and other agrarian laws. However, if the land has been acquired under P.D. No. 27/E.O. No. 228, ownership may be transferred after full payment of amortization by the beneficiary; (Sec. 6 of E.O. No. 228)

 6.      Default in the obligation to pay an aggregate of three (3) consecutive amortizations in case of voluntary land transfer/direct payment scheme, except in cases of fortuitous events and force majeure;

7.      Failure of the ARBs to pay for at least three (3) annual amortizations to the LBP, except in cases of fortuitous events and force majeure; (Section 26 of RA 6657) 

8.      Neglect or abandonment of the awarded land continuously for a period of two (2) calendar years as determined by the Secretary or his authorized representative; (Section 22 of RA 6657)

9.      The land is found to be exempt/excluded from P.D. No. 27/E.O. No. 228 or CARP coverage or to be part of the landowner's retained area as determined by the Secretary or his authorized representative; and

10.    Other grounds that will circumvent laws related to the implementation of agrarian reform program. (Emphasis supplied)

        Under Section 3 of Executive Order No. 228 (EO 228), 14 one of the modes of paying compensation to the landowner is by direct payment in cash or kind by the farmer-beneficiaries. In this case, petitioners entered into an agreement with respondent for a direct payment scheme embodied in the Deeds of Transfer. However, petitioners failed to pay the amortizations to respondent landowner in accordance with their agreed direct payment scheme. As found by the Court of Appeals:    cDTACE

There is no substantial evidence on record that the petitioners had remitted the amortizations due to the landowner in accordance with their agreed direct payment scheme embodied in their deeds of transfer. In view thereof, We have no recourse but to sustain the findings of fact of the agency below. . . .

Indeed, We have scrutinized the evidentiary records but found no valid reason to depart from the challenged decision. Petitioner Pedro Mago's supposed receipts of payment to prove that he paid the amortizations due were not even attached to the records of this case. In the case of Augusto Mago, his payment of P3,500.00 does not clearly show that the payment was intended for the subject land. Granting that it was so, it appeared to be for initial payment only. In Ernesto Mago's case, his heirs relied on a MARO Certification stating that Juana Barbin had refused to accept their payment. It was, however, issued only on October 1, 2003 long after the filing of the complaint. While P.D. 27 aims to emancipate landless farmers, it does not also allow unjust treatment of landowners by depriving the latter of the just compensation due. 15

        Petitioners contend that the Court of Appeals erred in finding them liable for violating DAR Administrative Order No. 02, series of 1994. Well-settled is the rule that only questions of law can be raised in a petition for review under Rule 45 of the Rules of Civil Procedure. 16 The factual findings of the Court of Appeals are conclusive and cannot be reviewed on appeal, provided they are based on substantial evidence. 17 More so in this case where the findings of the Court of Appeals coincide with those of the DARAB, an administrative body with expertise on matters within its specific and specialized jurisdiction. 18

        In the first place, the Emancipation Patents and the Transfer Certificates of Title should not have been issued to petitioners without full payment of the just compensation. 19 Under Section 2 of Presidential Decree No. 266, 20 the

        DAR will issue the Emancipation Patents only after the tenant-farmers have fully complied with the requirements for a grant of title under PD 27. Although PD 27 states that the tenant-farmers are already deemed owners of the land they till, it is understood that full payment of the just compensation has to be made first before title is transferred to them. 21 Thus, Section 6 of EO 228 provides that ownership of lands acquired under PD 27 may be transferred only after the agrarian reform beneficiary has fully paid the amortizations. In Coruña v. Cinamin, 22 the Court held:

As discussed above, the laws mandate the full compensation for the lands acquired under Pres. Decree No. 27 prior to the issuance of emancipation patents. This is understandable particularly since the emancipation patent presupposes that the grantee thereof has already complied with all the requirements prescribed by Pres. Decree No. 27. . . . 

While this Court commiserates with respondents in their plight, we are constrained by the explicit requirements of the laws and jurisprudence on the matter to annul the emancipation patents issued to respondents in the absence of any proof that they or the LBP has already fully paid the value of the lands put under the coverage of Pres. Decree No. 27. The requirement is unequivocal in that the values of the lands awarded to respondents must, prior to the issuance of emancipation patents be paid in full. 23 (Emphasis supplied)

        In this case, both the Court of Appeals and the DARAB found that petitioners have not fully paid the amortizations for the land granted to them. The PARAD had a similar finding when it recommended that the proper recourse of respondent is to file a claim for just compensation. Clearly, the cancellation of the Emancipation Patents issued to petitioners is proper under the circumstances.

        WHEREFORE, we DENY the petition. We AFFIRM the Decision dated 20 October 2005 and the Resolution dated 13 July 2006 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 87370.    IHCSTE

        SO ORDERED.

        Chico-Nazario, Velasco, Jr., Nachura and Peralta, JJ., concur.

Footnotes

  1.       Under Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.

  2.       Penned by Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza with Associate Justices Jose L. Sabio, Jr. and Arturo G. Tayag, concurring.

  3.       DECREEING THE EMANCIPATION OF TENANTS FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE SOIL, TRANSFERRING TO THEM THE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND THEY TILL AND PROVIDING THE INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISM THEREFOR.

  4.       Emancipation Patent No. 745.

  5.       Emancipation Patent No. 746.

  6.       Emancipation Patent No. 747.

  7.       Emancipation Patent No. 749.

  8.       CA rollo, pp. 34-43. TCT No. EP-745 was issued to Augusto Mago covering a portion of the landholding containing an area of 8,278 square meters. TCT No. EP-747 was issued to Ernesto Mago covering a portion of the landholding containing an area of 15,310 square meters. TCT No. EP-749 was issued to Pedro Mago covering a portion of the landholding containing an area of 18,221 square meters. Crispin Mago was not included as petitioner in the petition for review filed with the Court of Appeals.

  9.       Rollo, pp. 43-49.

10.       LOI 474 was issued on 21 October 1976 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

11.       Rollo, p. 60.

12.       Id. at 16.

13.       Mercado v. Mercado, G.R. No. 178672, 19 March 2009; Gabriel v. Jamias, G.R. No. 156482, 17 September 2008, 565 SCRA 443.

14.       EO 228, issued on 17 July 1987, provides for the manner of payment by the farmer beneficiary covered by PD 27 and the mode of compensation to the landowner. Section 3 of EO 228 reads:

           SECTION 3. Compensation shall be paid to the landowners in any of the following modes, at the point of the landowner:

                     (a) Bond payment over ten (10) years, with ten percent (10%) of the value of the land payable immediately in cash, and the balance in the form of LBP bonds bearing market rates of interest that are aligned with 90-day treasury bill rates, net of applicable final withholding tax. One tenth of the face value of the bonds shall mature every year from the date of issuances until the tenth year.

                     The LBP bonds issued hereunder shall be eligible for the purchase of government assets to the privatized.

                     (b) Direct payment in cash or kind by the farmer-beneficiaries with the terms to be mutually agreed upon by the beneficiaries and landowners and subject to the approval of the Department of Agrarian Reform; and

                     (c) Other modes of payment as may be prescribed or approved by the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council. (Emphasis supplied)

15.       Rollo, pp. 36-37.

16.       Section 1, Rule 45 states that the petition shall raise only questions of law which must be distinctly set forth. Ortega v. People, G.R. No 177944, 24 December 2008, 575 SCRA 519.

17.       Milestone Realty & Co. v. Court of Appeals, 431 Phil. 119 (2002).

18.       Avo-Alburo v. Matobato, 496 Phil. 293 (2005); Toralba v. Mercado, 478 Phil. 563 (2004); Padunan v. DARAB, 444 Phil. 213 (2003).

19.       Del Castillo v. Orciga, G.R. No. 153850, 31 August 2006, 500 SCRA 498.

20.       PROVIDING FOR THE MECHANICS OF REGISTRATION OF OWNERSHIP AND/OR TITLE TO LAND UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 27. Issued on 4 August 1973.

21.       Paris v. Alfeche, 416 Phil. 473 (2001), citing Association of Small Landowners in the Philippines, Inc. v. Secretary of Agrarian Reform, G.R. Nos. 78742, 79310, 79744, and 79777, 14 July 1989, 175 SCRA 343.

22.       G.R. No. 154286, 28 February 2006, 483 SCRA 507.

23.       Id. at 521-522.

Three Cagayan ARBOs to receive P5.5 million as INSPIRE Program recipients

On May 10, 2021, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, declared Proclamation No. 1143, - “State of Calamity throughout the Philippines due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) Outbreak.” As a consequence, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program and Bantay ASF sa Barangay or BABAy ASF Program, programs which are aimed to institutionalize biosecurity and disease control measures along with calibrated repopulation and enhancement of the local swine industry to recover from the economic disaster caused by the ASF outbreak. The program also aims to recover the industry’s capacity to locally produce sufficient supply of hogs and pork and urged the private sector such a Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCA) to participate in the repopulation program.

The ASF affected farmers in Cagayan experienced financial losses from the epidemic. As a result, most smallholder pig farms lost their incomes and struggled to repay loans, and because of biosecurity requirements, most backyard farms closed and the pigs were culled. Data also revealed that most actors in the value chain suffered significant losses because of ASF. 

In Cagayan province, prospective INSPIRE program recipients were identified, and after passing the criteria, three (3) Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs), namely: (1) Mabuhay Agri-Crop Multipurpose Cooperative in Piat, Cagayan; (2) San Mariano Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Lallo, Cagayan; and (3) Mt Cagua Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Sta Clara Gonzaga Cagayan were approved. As program recipients, they will receive PHP5.5 million in aid, which includes pigs, feeds, and a modern pig facility with ventilation system, a biogas facility, a caretaker shower room, and a perimeter fence. 

The project would speed up efforts to repopulate pigs so that there would be a steady supply of high-quality hogs and help the local market sell more high-quality pork. The above-named ARBOs are being assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) thru the various technical assistance available under its CARP support services for agrarian reform beneficiaries.             

Photos by: Emely Salvatiera and Joyce Calubong

Launching of the DA-INSPIRE program at Mabuhay Agri-Crop Multipurpose Cooperative, Warat, Piat, Cagayan.

Launching of DA-INSPIRE program San Mariano Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Lallo, Cagayan

Launching of DA-INSPIRE program at Mt Cagua Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Sta Clara Gonzaga Cagayan.

DAR turns over P33.3M “Tulay ng Pangulo” in Allacapan, Cagayan.

 

The Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project at PATASDA ARC in Pacac, Allacapan, Cagayan

Allacapan, Cagayan - Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and other residents of PATASDA Agrarian Reform Community (PATASDA ARC) in Pacac, Allacapan, Cagayan will now have a safer and more convenient  way to cross the river to transport their harvests and other agricultural products to the market due to the completion of the  two-lane 34.2 linear meter metallic bridge costing Php33,300,000.00 facilitated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Allacapan headed by Mayor Harry D. Florida. The TPKP project uses pre-fabricated materials imported from France and is said to be of the same quality materials used in the world  famous Eifel Tower in Paris. 

DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz led the turnover ceremony of the Php33.3 million metallic bridge. 

The DAR headed by then Secretary Bernie Cruz led the inauguration and turnover of the said bridge with Allacapan municipal Mayor Harry D. Florida and other representatives from the local government unit (LGU), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and DAR central, regional and provincial offices. Aside from easier access to farmers, the new bridge will also help the residents in availing various support services. The bridge also links neighboring barangays to the economic mainstream and opens opportunities for the ARBs and other stakeholders to enhance their agricultural productivity and household income. 

The TPKP aims to promote rural development primarily in agrarian reform communities. 

The bridge, a project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP), aims to promote rural development primarily  in agrarian reform communities, enhance productivity and income through reduced marketing cost, and alleviate poverty among agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in agrarian reform areas.

Allacapan municipal Mayor Harry D. Florida receiving yet again another significant project from DAR. 
 

Nabbotuan Farmers MPC and BJMP-Tuguegarao renew marketing agreement under EPAHP program.

 

TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Nabbotuan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) in Nabbotuan, Solana, Cagayan recently signed a Marketing Agreement  under Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger & Poverty (EPAHP) Project with the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP) - Tuguegarao, wherein the ARBO shall supply the needed fresh vegetables by the BJMP.

The EPAHP is a program of the Inter-Agency Task Force Zero Hunger, created under Executive Order No. 101, the objective of which is to mitigate hunger, ensure food security, reduce poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized communities and also to establish sustainable agriculture by 2030.

Among the strategies being implemented are coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and to establish marketing arrangements for various ARBOs in the province to provide them with programs to improve their livelihood activities. Agrarian reform beneficiaries, small farmers and fisherfolks are the priority sectors of the EPAHP which may help them cope up with the ongoing pandemic. The DAR, for their part, will assist the ARBOs and the farmers in the production and timely delivery of the food items for marketing, support services, access to financial assistance, capacity-building and technical support.

Under the EPAHP, the DAR will facilitate marketing assistance to the ARBOs by linking them to institutional markets through the forging of marketing agreements with DOH-retained hospitals, Provincial Jails, Provincial Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, and provide basic social, agricultural, and technical support services under the DSWD, DA, LBP, etc. Also included are supplementation feeding programs for schools, etc.

The signing of the marketing agreement was attended by representatives from the BJMP-Tuguegarao, ARBO representative from Nabbotuan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and facilitated by the DAR Cagayan-Batanes Provincial Office headed PARPO II Val Cristobal and DAR Provincial  Office staff.

P17B insurance protection for ARBs provided by DAR and PCIC

Quezon City, Philippines, September 17, 2022 - The insurance protection plan is contained in the joint program called the “Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries-Agricultural Insurance Program (ARB-AIP).” The ARB-AIP will benefit over 224,000 ARBs or members of their households who are actually cultivating around 330,000 hectares of land and engaged in raising some 30,700 farm animals, who are eligible for insurance premium subsidy.

From these ARBs, there are estimated 99,580 rice farmers tilling 178,801 hectares;  37,772 corn farmers cultivating around 72,506 hectares; and about 85,760 commercial crop farmers cultivating around 78,633 hectares. Nine hundred twenty four (924) farmers raise 30,742 animals.

Each eligible ARB shall have access to protection cover up to three hectares (maximum award per CARP beneficiary) and up to three types of insurance coverage only which is good for two cropping seasons.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), has partnered with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to provide some P17.1 billion worth of crop insurance protection to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) over the next two cropping seasons.

The insurance protection plan is the first such collaboration between two of the country’s main rural development agencies and the biggest group plan ever issued by the DA-PCIC. It aims to provide the ARBs a safety net against fortuitous events caused by climate change, also crop pests and diseases.  

Additionally, beneficiaries will be provided protection against loss of limbs or life under its Accident and Dismemberment Security Scheme. To qualify, the program beneficiaries must be participants of key DAR programs, such as the Agrarian Reform Connectivity andEconomic Support Service (ARCCESS), Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP), Credit Assistance Program for Program Beneficiaries Development (CAP-PBD) and Microfinance Capacity Development in Agrarian Reform Areas. DAR will identify the eligible beneficiaries.

DAR will put up the premium subsidy worth P1B from the DAR-GPS for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries. Of the amount, P533.78M will be allocated for rice farmers, P385.82, corn farmers, P79.09M for high value crop farmers, P1.31M for livestock. The premium cost for the individual farmer’s life and limb coverage amounting to P5.43M would come from interest income of the DAR-Government Premium Subsidy (DAR-GPS) Fund.

For its part, DA-PCIC will provide the insurance cover worth some P17.07B from which some P4.94B will be reserved for rice, P2B for corn, P2.35B for commercial crops, P13M for livestock, and some P7.77B for the individual farmer’s life and limb.

In cases where the insured risks happens, the DA-PCIC will pay out damage claims from these beneficiaries within 20 days, less than the 60-day reglementary period. This is made possible by the ISO-certified systems and processes established by the DA-PCIC.

Depending on the extent of damage and the cost of farm investment, the farmers may receive payments for damages worth P39,000 to P52,000 per hectare for inbred and hybrid rice, respectively;  P28,000 and P40,000 for every hectare of open-pollinated and hybrid corn, respectively;  and  up to P50,000 for life and limb. These are various indemnity figures for commercial crops and animals as there are many types of crops and animals involved.

Link: DAR-PCIC orientation (on Facebook page)

SALAMIN MPC and BJMP-Tuao District Jail renew EPAHP Marketing Agreement

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan -The SALAMIN Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a duly registered agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) based in Tuao, Cagayan and the Tuao District Jail under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 signed the renewed marketing agreement wherein the former shall supply the later with fresh vegetables as one of the needs of the BJMP.

The members of the SALAMIN MPC are graduates of the Farm Business School (FBS) which was established by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-ATI) and the local government unit of Tuao (LGU-Tuao). It is aimed to build up the capabilities of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in handling and marketing their farm products through trainings on bookkeeping, cash flows, market surveys, labor, product selling, product costing and proper packaging of their products. Consequently, they have a profitable fresh vegetable business enterprise.

The marketing agreement is based on the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). The EPAHP is one of the banner programs of the Inter-Agency Task Force Zero Hunger, created under Executive Order No. 101, January 10, 2020, whose objective is to mitigate hunger, ensure food nutrition security, and establish sustainable agriculture by 2030. Among the strategies are coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and to establish marketing arrangements for various Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs). It is also intended to contribute to the national government efforts in addressing hunger and poverty through the synergy and convergence of essential services of participating EPAHP partners directly benefiting the poorer sector of the country. Under this program, the rural communities are encouraged to enhance social capital and optimize economic resource base through feeding programs, food-production programs, and essential support services, including the participation of community-based organizations in government procurement as partners and/or service providers. This reinforced convergence and synergy among the different government agencies and other development partners will revolutionize the journey towards social development. Through the EPAHP, better engagement with rural communities, enhancement of social capital and optimization of economic resource base is possible.

The renewal of the marketing agreement between SALAMIN MPC and BJMP-Tuao District Jail was attended by BJMP officials - JINSP Atty. Randy A. Dupilas, District Jail Warden; JOI Kay Anthony Q. Abarriao, Food Service Supervisor; and SALAMIN MPC officers - William A. Olang, Chairman and Tessie C. Bansag, Treasurer. The event was likewise witnessed by DARPO-Cagayan officials led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO II) Val M. Cristobal, OIC-PARPO I Pedro Barasi and Novelita Edraira, EPAHP Focal Person.  Photos by: Joana Marie Soriano-Cho

SALAMIN MPC Chairman William Olang and BJMP representative JOI Kay Anthony Abarriao signing the Marketing Agreement. 

DARPO-Cagayan PARPO II Val M. Cristobal and other officials witnessing the signing of the Marketing Agreement. 

The EPAHP is one of the banner programs of the Inter-Agency Task Force Zero Hunger, created under Executive Order No. 101, whose objective is to mitigate hunger, ensure food nutrition security, and establish sustainable agriculture by 2030. 

Govt gives CARP lands to agri-grads in Cagayan

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Cagayan province, through President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 75, Series of 2019, acquired and distributed the 549-hectare portion of the Cagayan State University in Lallo town, Cagayan province under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Some 382 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), 30 of whom are graduates of agriculture courses shall be given farmlots for free. This is the first time that the department would give free lands to agricultural graduates.

The Certificate of Landownership Award (CLOA) titles were handed to them by no less than the DAR Secretary, Atty. John R. Castriciones in a landmark ceremony held at the DAR Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City on February 5, 2021. It is proof of the government’s resolve to pursue the constitutionally mandated agrarian reform program.

The objective of the activity, among others, is to encourage the youth to pursue agriculture. The government is seriously encouraging the younger generation to take the reins from aging farmer-leaders, to help attain national food security, and push the nation’s agriculture into the future. Presently, the government is providing them the much-needed support services, such agricultural lands, credit, capacity- building, and post-graduate scholarships, etc., to make agriculture a sustainable career that can be a steady source of income and make agriculture as a passion and career. 

There is great potential for the modernization of Philippine agriculture due to the youth’s technological insights and vitality, they can navigate the nation’s agriculture en route to the digital and smart technologies such as monitoring, analysis and reporting technology through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analysis. These are the young farmers that will revolutionize our agri sector towards economies of scale in the once very rural countryside. 

According to a study, the country could a face shortage of farmers if the current agricultural workforce will not be replenished by young farmers. It also showed that the number of students in agricultural courses have been declining yearly by 1.5 percent. The lands acquired by DAR for distribution were unutilized government-owned lands (GOLs), subjected under Executive Order (EO) No. 75, Series of 2019. (Photos by: Engr. Cherryl Tugude. Engr. Vanessa Layugan, Ms Jenalyn Baleva. et. al.)

DAR Secretary Atty John R Castriciones hands over CLOA
title to land awarded to agriculture graduates. 

The agri-grad ARBs during the organic farm visit in Tagaytay

Some of the 30 agriculture graduates-CARP beneficiaries on
their awarded farmlots in Lallo, Cagayan. 

ARBs and the DARPO-Cagayan EO 75/GOL Survey Team.

 

An area of around 549.0000 hectares was acquired for distribution 
to 382 agrarian reform beneficiaries (includes 30 agri-graduates). 

DAR Cagayan Valley 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Filipinos are ready for electric vehicles

Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit

Technological developments in battery and charging, longer travelling distances, government support are pushing the advancement of the next big market in transportation.

The global electric vehicle (EV) market is catching up to Filipinos as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and other automotive companies are bringing in fresh options for the electric vehicle market.

The Nissan-commissioned study by Frost & Sullivan, titled "Future of Electric Vehicles in Southeast Asia," was released in Singapore at Nissan Futures, a gathering of industry leaders, government officials and media. Consumer research in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines reveals that 37% of prospective buyers are open to considering an electric vehicle as their next car. Customers in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia emerged as the most enthusiastic about electric cars.

 The study "Future of Electric Vehicles in Southeast Asia" was conducted by Frost & Sullivan in January 2018 in six countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The findings are based on 1,800 online customer responses and face-to-face discussions.  (Courtesy: Nissan Motor Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.; Frost & Sullivan Corporate Communications, Asia-Pacific)