MANILA – The Department of Agrarian Reform trains farmers as paralegals to speed up implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Thirty-seven farmers in Bukidnon have already completed their training as paralegals, equipped with skills to assist DAR personnel in fast-tracking the land acquisition and distribution of problematic landholdings in the province.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes said the new farmer-paralegals were the first graduates of the DAR Paralegal Formation Program being implemented in pilot provinces Bukidnon, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Leyte, Negros Occidental, and North Cotabato.

The program aims to train more farmer-paralegals in the communities, especially in the top 20 provinces with the biggest balances in land acquisition and distribution.

The participants were given trainings on the CARP implementation and related laws, particularly on the qualifications and selections of agrarian reform beneficiaries, the LAD process as provided in the new DAR issuances, as well as fundamental skills in legal research, interviews, evidence gathering and documentation.

Delos Reyes welcomed the new farmer-paralegals who will work with the department in the distribution of at least 987 hectares covering 10 problematic landholdings located in the municipalities of Sumilao, Malaybalay, Maramag, Pangantucan, and Quezon, all in Bukidnon.*PNA

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