The Department of Agrarian Reform on Monday said at least 25.7658 hectares of lands in Aklan’s Boracay Island would be disposed of for agricultural use in its first phase of distribution within 90 days.
At a news conference at DAR’s main office in Quezon City, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Research Office David Erro, the agency’s spokesperson, said some 80 Aetas would be the first beneficiaries of the land to be placed under the agrarian reform program through an executive order.
“If President Rodrigo Duterte gives us the green light to remove structures within the hectares, we will do so [so we could be able to convert the land into an agricultural area],” he told reporters.
DAR eyes the full distribution process in 90 days “or shorter than that,” he said.
The agency has already submitted a draft executive order to the Office of the President, he said.
When asked if any legal case could block DAR’s implementation, he said “only a Supreme Court order could stop us.”
He, however, said the 90-day deadline may get extended should a restraining order is issued.
According to Erro, DAR’s phase of the land reform in Boracay Island would cover 220 hectares of land with existing structures.
Under phase 3, another 623 hectares of land shall be placed under the agrarian reform program to be awarded to 200 displaced residents of Boracay Island.
The President earlier ordered Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones to leave a portion of the island for eco-tourism use.
“We propose the use of one-kilometer easement from the shoreline of the white beach for commercial and tourism purposes,” he said.