President Rodrigo Duterte worried last Sunday that informal settlement still the primary reason of the Philippines’ demise. 

“Nobody but nobody can solve it except the Filipino and ‘yung workers sa government nakatutok talaga.” Duterte said during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pampanga Provincial Hospital-Clark in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

He also added that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) should gave the idle government-owned lands to those underprivileged before he steps down as the president in June.  

“My orders to the Department of Agrarian Reform, basta lahat ng lupa ng sa gobyerno ‘pag may squatters na, ibigay mo na.” He said. 

Duterte reminded the DAR that he demands the utilization of the land in the future and never seek any excuses from the said government agency.  

“Do not give me about – that a certain land or lot will be utilized by this department, blah, blah, blah. At magdaan na lang ang mga ilang administrasyon hindi naman ninyo nagamit, eh ibigay mo na sa tao.  He said. 

Meanwhile, PRRD reiterated that the government has funds to purchase new lands if they need it.

“Do not hang on to a property that’s idle or talagang hindi talaga magamit (that can no longer be used). Kung magamit man (If it does get used), it could be about two administrations from now. So pagka ganoon sabi ko ibigay mo na at magbili ang gobyerno ng ano bagong lupa tutal hindi naman nawawalan ng pera ang gobyerno sa totoo lang (In that case, I said just give it away and the government can buy new lands. Anyway, the government will never run out of funds),” he said. 

The lands owned by the government were distributed to some qualified beneficiaries across the country specifically in isolated areas that were infiltrated by the New People’s Army.

In addition, Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 75 last February 2019 to identify the government lands that can be distributed to qualified beneficiaries. The E.O stated also that the DAR must acquire all the government-owned lands that are suitable for agriculture but no longer direct and exclusive. 

The land should be reserved and distributed to all qualified beneficiaries. 

Duterte expressed that the next president should continue the land reform program organized by his administration last April. 

Photo credit : Facebook/pcoogov