Duterte orders state-owned agri lands identified and distributed

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a landmark order to identify and dstribute agricultural lands owned by the state to qualified beneficiaries.

In Executive Order No. 75 released by the Palace on Wednesday, Duterte directed departments, bureaus, offices, and “instrumentalities” to identify lands owned by the government devoted to or suitable for agriculture for distribution to qualified beneficiaries.

EO 75 was signed by the President on February 15. The order will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Duterte signed EO 75 directing all government departments, bureaus, offices to identify state-owner land suitable for agri or for distribution to qualified beneficiaries | via @Ted_Cordero pic.twitter.com/ZDO1e19glx

— GMA News (@gmanews) February 20, 2019

Since he assumed the presidency in 2016, Duterte has been pushing for land reform and vowed to the distribute idle government lands.

Duterte ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to acquire all lands suitable for agriculture which are owned by departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities of the government for the purpose of distribution to qualified beneficiaries.

The lands to be acquired are no longer to be used for the purpose the properties have been reserved.

Government agencies must submit a list of idle lands suitable for agriculture; including its location, actual use, and legal basis of ownership to DAR within 30 days after the EO takes effect.

“The DAR, in coordination with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), shall cause the preparation of an inventory of government-owned lands devoted or suitable for agriculture and no longer actually, directly, and exclusively used or necessary for the purpose for which they have been reserved or acquired,” the order read.

DAR and the Department of Justice were tasked to jointly draft the implementing rules and regulations of EO 75. —VDS, GMA News