Farmers Urge DAR to Revoke Order, Compromise Deal on Batangas Land Dispute

A farmers’ group has called on the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to revoke a consolidated order and compromise agreement that mandates their removal from 1,300 hectares of Hacienda Roxas in Batangas.

Violation of Agrarian Laws

The farmers, supported by Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra), have filed a petition arguing that the consolidated order and compromise agreement violate Republic Act No. 6657 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law or CARL) and its amendment, Republic Act No. 9700 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform or CARPER).

“Since time immemorial, these farmers have been cultivating their land. It goes against the basic precepts of justice, fairness, and equity to deprive them, through no fault of their own, of the land they till,” the farmers stated. They emphasized that these laws mandate the acquisition and distribution of agricultural lands to landless tillers and that such provisions are not subject to compromise.

DAR’s Order and Its Implications

The farmers claim that the DAR failed to consider the impact of their order on the farmers and the broader community of Hacienda Roxas.

On December 29, 2023, DAR issued a Consolidated Order dividing 2,938 hectares of land owned by Roxas and Company Inc. (RCI) equally. These lands in Nasugbu, Batangas, were placed under CARP, and Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) were issued to the agrarian reform beneficiaries. However, RCI protested and applied for land conversion.

Compromise Agreement and Future Distribution

In February, DAR announced that each farmer-beneficiary would receive individual parcels of land under a compromise agreement between the farmers and RCI. Secretary Conrado Estrella III stated that 1,322 hectares of the property would be distributed to around 1,200 farmers.