Farmer-beneficiaries of estates in Negros Oriental covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program but who have not been installed in the lands awarded them are again holding a picket or “Kampo ng Bayan” at the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Dumaguete City.

On Monday, hundreds of FBs set up makeshift tents at the DAR provincial office as they called on Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Stephen Leonidas to remind him of his promise to have them installed in Tanjay City and Bais City.

The farmers are beneficiaries of at least six estates: the Polo Plantation, owned by former Senator Rene Espina; the Ruben Carballo landholdings in San Miguel; the Don Gaspar Vicente, Inc. in Arapiles, Novallas; the Del Prado-Ledesma, Inc. in Sta. Cruz Viejo Tanjay and the Mendieta Inunciaga Agricultural Corporation in Novallas, all in Tanjay City; and the Maples Agricultural Corporation in Calasgaan, Bais City.

The farmers, who are being assisted by the Negros Oriental Center for People Empowerment, are organized as the MANAAKA or the Mag-uumang Nagkahiusa Alang sa Kalambuan, and are scheduled to hold a dialog today with Leonidas, NOCPED’s Tess Naz said.

Reports say rife that some of the farmer-beneficiaries will self-install themselves this week with or without the assistance of the DAR and the Philippine National Police.

PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza said that until today, his office has not received a go-signal from higher headquarters to deploy policemen as security detail to ensure a peaceful installation of the farmer-beneficiaries.*JFP

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