THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform-Davao Region office (DAR-11) said 5,000 hectares (ha) of land, which accounts for 50% of the remaining lots up for distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), are “problematic,” DAR Regional Director Joseph H. Orilla told media that the problem mainly involves pending court cases arising from disputes raised by private land owners. “Majority of these areas are haciendas in Davao Oriental,” Mr. Orilla said, noting that several of the cases are pending before the Supreme Court. The 10,000 ha in Davao are part of the remaining 584,000 ha of land nationwide that have yet to be distributed to farmers. The distribution process has been taking so long, Mr. Orilla said, because “privately owned lands, like hacienda landowners, will have to be compensated by the government.” CARP, contained in Republic Act 6657, was passed in June 1988. — Maya M. Padillo

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