DAR chief presents his thrusts, directions for the next 5 years

Secretary John Castriciones explains his thrusts and directives to the third level officials of the department. (Supplied)

QUEZON CITY, February 16 — Agrarian Secretary John Castriciones presented the department’s thrusts and directions to the third level officials of the DAR during the department’s summative assessment for the calendar year 2017 and planning conference for 2018 to 2022.

“These thrusts and directions that my team crafted are aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s national goal of eradicating corruption, addressing social justice and improving the economic lives of our poor farmers,” Castriciones said.

The Secretary’s thrusts and directions are:

1. Initiate and streamline legal procedures.

2. Increase issuance of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs).

3. Implement programs that will help farmers retain their CLOAs and stay on their farms.

4. Use convergence of line departments to give support to the farmers.

5. Utilize the family as the focal point for agrarian reform.

6. Accomplish placements and promotion of DAR employees affected by the 

Rationalization Plan.

“These [thrusts and directives] would also serve as a guide for formulating strategic plans for agrarian reform implementation for the next five years,” added Castriciones.

At the planning and assessment, Castriciones called on his central and Regional Directors to strategize on how to improve the implementation of agrarian reform program in the country.

During the plenary and focus group discussion, the participants were able to identify the internal and external drivers and barriers of the DAR, which either helped or hindered in the achievements of its targets.

The DAR officials also identified opportunities for improvements to further enhance the implementation of the DAR’s major final outputs, support to operations projects, priority programs and management accountability.

The on-going activity is also aimed to ensure that the development thrusts of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte are integrated into the programs and services of DAR.

For his final message, Castriciones directed his officials to implement agrarian reform laws to aid in fighting for farmers’ rights and expediting agrarian legal cases.

“With these thrusts and directives, the workforce of the department would do its best to implement programs and projects that would intensify land distribution, delivery of judicious agrarian justice and provision of support services,” Castriciones said.

The third level officials of the DAR are the Bureau, Staff and Office Directors of the DAR central office, the Regional Directors, Assistant Directors, Adjudicators and the Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officers. 

The assessment and planning conference is being held at the Sequoia Hotel on Feb. 12-15, 2017.

(Director Leomides Villarea/DAR Public Assistance and Media Relations Service)