CONCEPCION, Tarlac (August 3, 2023) — The resolution to the long-standing land dispute in Barangay Tinang here is almost at hand.
Several Department of Agriculture (DAR) engineers from the agency’s Central Office arrived yesterday to mark the boundaries allotted to different groups.
Out of the 200 hectares being disputed for 30 years, 5.69 hectares will be given to the Dominican Province of the Philippines Inc. (DPPI) supervisors, 23.625 has. to 378 home lots, 6.215 has. reserved for roads, creeks, etc., 62.456962 has. to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, and 102.013038 has. to members of Tinang Samahang Nayon Multipurpose Cooperative (TSNMPC) which number about 360 families.
According to the DAR writ, the TSNMPC members will undergo further validation before they become eligible beneficiaries.
The DPPI originally owned the sprawling 200 ha. sugarcane plantation.
Malayang Kilusang Samahang Magsasaka ng Tinang (MAKISAMA Tinang) chairman Alvin Dimarucot said that the land awarded to their group will be managed collectively.
“Deng titles akwa da reng members mi, i-manage mi la as collective. Gawa kaming cooperative (The titles that our members will receive will be managed collectively. We will form a cooperative),” Dimarucot said in Kapampangan.
The MAKISAMA Tinang leader also blasted the DAR Provincial Office (DARPO).
“Ang mga delay sa pamimigay ng lupa ay kasalanan ng DARPO. Sinabi nila na darating ang taga-Central Office noong August 1 pero kahapon lang sila dumating,” Dimarucot said.
MAKISAMA Tinang members are still guarded despite the execution of the DAR decision since the TSNMPC might give them trouble.
The Concepcion police maintained their heavy presence to separate the two groups.
Members of the existing cooperative will just be getting 2,834 sq. m per validated member, a far cry from the 90 Agrarian Reform beneficiaries’ almost 7,000 sq. m per member. This is a reversal of fortune as MAKISAMA Tinang has been confined to farm on just two hectares while the TSNMPC manages 129.47.
According to Engr. Castor Salacup of the DAR Central office, they expect to complete the survey in two weeks.
DAR issued a Writ of Execution on June 13, 2023, two weeks after Secretary Conrado Estrella III announced on May 30 the “resolution” to the dispute in a press briefing.
Estrella noted that over 450 titles will be released to 450 families since no appeals and protests were filed following the DAR’s release of its decision on the case.
