Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman (center) answers media question during a press conference in Zamboanga City. Also in photo are DAR Region 9 officials.

DAR assures support to ARMM land reform programs
text & photo HADER GLANG

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman has assured that his department will support the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the implementation of its plans and programs on land reform.

Pangandaman made the assurance last Friday during his visit to the Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Isabela City and Lamitan, Basilan, which are still part of DAR’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) scope.

Although the powers and functions of DAR were already devolved to ARMM, he said, “I have assured them that we will support their plans and programs and other proposed projects they have submitted to us.”

Based on DAR’s accomplishment report from January to December 2004, the department distributed a total of 104,069 hectares of agricultural lands to 71,682 ARBs nationwide including two ARMM provinces (Basilan and Lanao Sur).

Few weeks ago, during the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pangandaman met with ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and discussed several DAR projects, which will be implemented in the autonomous region.

“I was telling him (Ampatuan) we really have to push for more programs for the benefits of our Muslim brothers. I assured him of our support in the DAR,” said Pangandaman, himself a former ARMM official in the early 1990s during the incumbency of his father, former ARMM Gov. Liningding Pangandaman who was also one- time Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia. (ZS)