The provincial government of Negros Occidental is filing a temporary restraining order before a Regional Trial Court to prevent the Register of Deeds from annotating the coverage of a 50,000 square meter-lot within the Negros First Ranch in Brgy. Santa Rosa, Murcia, that had been placed under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Board Member Miller Serondo, vice-chairperson of the Committee on Laws and Ordinances of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan, yesterday said the notice of agrarian reform coverage came after the sale of the 160-hectare property, that houses the cattle and sheep purchased from Australia, to the provincial government.

During its regular session, the SP yesterday approved the request and gave Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. authority to file a petition for declaratory relief and quieting of title against the Register of Deeds, relative to Lot 1 of Psd-13708 consisting of 500,000 square meters owned by the provincial government in Brgy. Santa Rosa.

In previous months, 18 farmers claiming to be agrarian reform beneficiaries, occupied and plowed one hectare of the Negros First Ranch, that had been purchased by the provincial government from the Arguelles family.

This prompted the provincial government to deploy policemen in the area, to prevent the illegal settlers from occupying a portion of the Negros First Ranch.

Realizing that it may take time for the court to resolve the issue, Serondo said they will resort to the filing of a TRO against the Register of Deeds to prevent the annotation of the coverage.

Serondo said the CARP coverage of the 50,000 square meters lot of the Negros First Ranch will not delay the implementation of the food security program of Marañon.

Earlier Marañon had said that he is optimistic that Negros Occidental will be the “lamb capital” of the Philippines in the next two years, and described the breeding of sheep in the province as “promising”.

Maryann Manayon-Lamis, Assistant Provincial Legal Officer, said they expect to file the TRO after the SP gives its concurrence to the request of Marañon to approve the filing of a petition for declaratory relief against the Register of Deeds.* GPB

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