Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Farmers ask to defer Pangandaman's appointment as DAR secretary By Edmund B. Sestoso
FARMERS from Negros Oriental asked both the Senate and the House of Representatives to defer the confirmation of Nasser Pangandaman as Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary due to some problems faced by the sector, which they claim have remain unacted by Pangandaman.
Leaders and representatives from various groups headed by the Negros Farmers Council (NFC) and the Negros Farmlands have earlier sought the help of Representative Emil Ong who is the vice chairperson of the Commission on Appointments.
Earlier, representatives from NFC group went to DAR Manila office and discussed points related to the implementation of the government's Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) in Negros Oriental.
The program involves illegal conversion and illegal exemption of large tracts of sugarlands, cancellation of the Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA's), and non-installation of beneficiaries in Carp acquired lands with CLOA's, among others.
"Pending positive action from the DAR Secretary, we are appealing for your unequivocal support to the pleas of the NFC to take the necessary efforts to block the confirmation of Secretary Pangandaman" the farmer leaders said in their letter to Ong.
Among the signatories who wanted Pangandaman's appointment blocked are Edna Mijares, Florencia Batiancila, Salvador Abueva, Guillermo Abong, Panfilo Molas, Carmencita Ejercito, Jimmy Cadavis, Emiliano Olores, and Angel Tormon, the media officer of the NFC.
The farmers cited litanies of issues against the administration of Pangandaman.
Among those are Pangandaman's reversal of the order of former DAR secretary Ernesto Garilao, which dismisses the protest filed by the heirs of Don Gaspar Vicente landholdings on Carp coverage in Bais City but at the same time grants the landowners petition for land conversion; non-identification of 178 farm workers as qualified beneficiaries; and the disenfranchisement and cancellation of 23 ARB CLOA's of the 554 hectares of CARPable lands formerly owned by the Sycip Planation located in 4 barangays in Manjuyod town.
