The Department of Agrarian Reform has installed the remaining beneficiaries of farmland in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.
Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones led the grant of certificates of land ownership to the remaining 171 beneficiaries of the agricultural portion of Hacienda Luisita that is covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
The sugarcane estate belonging to the Aquino-Cojuangco families covers 4,915 hectares.
The distribution of the sugarcane estate was the result of the July 5, 2011 decision of the Supreme Court in the case Hacienda Luisita Inc. versus Presidential Agrarian Reform Council et al.
The high court declared as valid PARC resolution 2005-32-01 issued on Dec. 22, 2005, revoking the stock distribution option plan of HLI for violation of several provisions of the stock distribution option agreement entered into between HLI and the farmers, and which ultimately resolved that the subject lands be placed under the compulsory coverage of the agrarian reform program.
Under the arrangement, the farmers will receive shares of stock instead of physical land.
On July 18, 2018, the department led the issuance of lot allocation certificates 6,212 beneficiaries of HLI.
Out of those beneficiaries, 171 failed to appear within the period set by the department to finally claim their rights over the lots.
They were, however, given a second chance, but only 46 responded to the department’s call and were eventually allowed to avail themselves of the lot allocation certificates.
As for the remaining 111, their disqualification was eventually lifted through on an order issued by then secretary Rafael Mariano on Feb. 16, 2017.