ORANI, Bataan – Bataan First District Representative Geraldine B. Roman last Thursday appealed to different government agencies and local governments to collaborate to settle land disputes and other issues that will benefit the farmers and other concern sectors.
Roman made her call during the the Stakeholders Meeting with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) officials in Abucay town hosted by Mayor Liberato P. Santiago Jr. along with Cong. Joet Garcia of Bataan Second District and called for free and accessible irrigation for farmers.
“I appeal to NIA, the Department of Agrarian Reform, (DAR), the Department of Agriculture and the LGUs to have an interagency collaboration to settle once and for all the problem of land disputes and to identify once and for all who are the legitimate owners of the land so that we can bring them all the necessary assistance in terms of machinery, equipment, facility, services and also irrigation,” Roman told the local press in a press briefing.
The first-termer lawmaker added that some CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) farmer-beneficiaries and former landowners take advantage of their situations and both claim the lands for themselves thereby creating two or more adversarial sides.
She said these scenarios are widespread nationwide and are just some of the major hindrances that delay some government programs and projects specially for the farmers.
“And the root of these all is napakabagal nung settlement process within DAR. Before a final decision is made, it takes more than ten years. I have several cases here panahon pa ni (President) Joseph Estrada,” Roman lamented.
Meanwhile, Roman also commented on the ongoing land disputes between the farmers in a more than 200 hectare disputed lands in Barangay Sumalo in Hermosa town and the Riverforest Development Corporation to settle their disputes peacefully.
“Ako I believe if the claimants, the Littons are willing to negotiate I’m sure an amicable settlement can be reached, a win-win situation for all,” Roman said.