Duterte leads land titles distribution in Maguindanao

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers with Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones after handing over a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to one of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries of Maguindanao at the Buluan Municipal Gymnasium on February 11, 2019. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Buluan, Maguindanao (February 12, 2019) – President Rodrigo Duterte led the distribution of Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) on Monday, February 11, at this town’s gymnasium. 

A total of 834 land titles were awarded to 780 farmers from 17 municipalities in Maguindanao namely: Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Paglas, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Guindulungan, Kabuntalan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Rajah Buayan, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, Talitay, and Upi.

“Kung ano man ang makuha mo sa gobyerno na lupa , hawakan mo 'yan, pwede mong ipasa 'yan sa pamilya mo,” President Duterte told the beneficiaries. “I always tell everybody, military, police, lahat, even the cabinet na tayo po ay hindi magkakaroon ng kapayapaan hanggang walang resolusyon yung  mga kapatid natin nag-rebelde na mabigyan ng lupa. Hindi natin yan madadala sa patayan, mauubos lang sa walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay.”

He was also firm in saying that he will dedicate his remaining three years as the country’s chief executive in achieving a long and lasting peace in Mindanao. He instructed Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones, who was present in the event, to give all the government’s lands to the people. “Ibigay mo na lahat yan sa panahon ko, pati bukid ibigay mo na para mataniman.”

Regional Secretary Dayang Carlsum-Jumaide of DAR-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) underscored the objectives of Monday’s event. “Mandato po ng DAR-ARMM ang pagpapatupad ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program upang maipamahagi ang mga lupang sakahan sa mga magsasaka at tulungan silang umunlad at magkaroon ng maayos na pamumuhay,” she said.

She also mentioned the positive impact of the incoming Bangsamoro government to ARBs. “Panatag po ang kalooban namin sa pagsalubong natin sa Bangsamoro autonomous regional government na hindi mapapabayaan ang ating mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, bagkus bubuti pa lalo ang kalidad ng kanilang buhay na nagnanais ng pangmatagalang pangkapayapaan at kaunlaran,” she said.

For his part, ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said, “sa puntong ito, anumang araw ngayon ay lilisan na ang ARMM. Masaya akong bababa sa ARMM, dahil alam ko, marami tayong pinagsamahan at marami tayong nagawa.”

“Isang halimbawa na lamang po ang araw na ito. Kahit papaano, ang ating mga magsasaka dito sa Maguindanao ay nakikinabang din sa mga titulo ng lupa na kanilang pag-aari na habambuhay... Congratulations po sa inyong lahat, he added. Gov. Hataman also thanked the President for supporting the regional government.

“Kung anuman ang natamasa niyo at kung anuman ang tagumpay ng ARMM, kung meron man kayong nararamdaman na pagbabago, hindi po mangyayari yun kung hindi tayo tinulungan ng pambansang pamahalaan. Sa ating Pangulo, nais ko pong personal na ipa-abot ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat sa inyong suporta sa ARMM,” he said.

Wilson Balena, a Teduray from Upi and one of the beneficiaries, was emotional in thanking the regional government and the President for fulfilling his dream to have his own land. “Napakahalaga po kasi ng lupa para sa amin,” he said.

“Ito ay katumbas ng aming buhay at magdadala ng kinabukasan ng aming mga anak. Instrumento po ito ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa amin. Pagbubungkal ng lupa ang aming ikinabubuhay pero ni minsan hindi po kami nagkaroon ng lupang matatawag naming sa amin. Ngayon lang po, ngayon lang.”

The CLOAs distributed on Monday covered a total area of 1,740.3 hectares. To date, DAR-ARMM has already transferred a total area of 224,708.73 hectares to 67,801 farmers all over the region. Sixty percent of these are in the province of Maguindanao. (Bureau of Public Information)

                                           

Editorial

Comes the birth of MILF-led BARMM

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato City, and 33 barangays in North Cotabato constitute the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a parliamentary-democratic political structure, one that is endowed with more powers in governance and more shares in revenues that could appropriately address the geographical setting’s dire needs for development, one that could put an end to senseless war and conflict, and put meaning to its aspirations.

        What comes next is the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that would serve as the interim government until the BARMM officials are deemed duly elected in year 2022. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is allotted 41 slots of the 80-member BTA. It is expected that MILF chair Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim would head the BTA as interim chief minister.

        There are still skepticism and misconceptions over the Bangsamoro Organic Law that created the BARMM. It is false to say that the political turn-around is endowing the MILF the domination over the non-Muslim diverse population. The BOL is a concession in the peace deal between the government and the Moro Front as contained in the Comprehensive Bangsamoro Agreement. It is giving the MILF the opportunity to lead in regional governance and set the pace for a lasting peace situation in the region… in the same way the Moro National Liberation Front was given the leverage to lead the ARMM after it signed a peace pact with the government.

        It is now the challenge for the MILF-led BARMM to pursue development and peace-oriented governance, setting a paradigm that will unify a people when the Front assured that the Bangsamoro is not only for the Muslim population but for all inhabitants in the homeland. Diverse cultures have co-existed in the homeland and a unifying force would further enhance multi-population engagement of trust and in participatory governance embodied in democratic ideals. While the MILF is entrusted the regional government leadership, it has to put in place a bureaucracy of capability and competence, one that augers well to the very aspirations and objectives that the new regional government comes to be created.

        Further, the BOL and BARMM should become a fulfilling testament to the continuing peace process and pursuit of wide-range development for the regional inhabitants --- better social-economic opportunities, reduction of poverty, and importantly the implanting of lasting peace.

        The MILF-led BARMM is now put to a political and economic test. On the part of the population is putting trust to regional leadership and support its development and peace pursuits… that we pray.

        Now the MILF is no longer a belligerent organization following the ratification of the BOL. The complete decommissioning of its firearms or weapon arsenal would soon follow… So be it.