Ifugao farmers received free legal cliniquing, counseling, and legal advice from the legal officers of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as the latter personally visited the remote barangay of Aduyongan, Mayoyao town to assist them with their problems, issues, and concerns involving lands and other agrarian reform-related cases.
Atty. Johnson P. Nasdoman, DAR-Ifugao Chief Legal Officer, emphasized the vital role of the activity dubbed “Agrarian Reform Justice on Wheels (ARJOW),” in helping the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) experiencing legal battles under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
“Legal problems could affect our ARBs’ productivity, and the least we could do is to help and support them in facing their challenges,” Nasdoman said.
ARJOW is a program adopted by the DAR, where lawyers and legal experts personally visit various communities in the countryside to bring agrarian reform services closer to the people through free mobile clinics.
Nasdoman said the program is in compliance with the directive of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to fast-track the resolution of all agrarian cases and deliver legal assistance in a fair and speedy manner.
During the activity, Atty. Regina V. Bernabe-Falucho, DAR Ifugao Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD), led the administration of the oath of aspiring ARBs who have previously applied as potential beneficiaries.
The DAR will verify and ensure the accuracy and integrity of applicants’ information, and conduct a thorough verification process to identify those eligible to sign later on an Affidavit of Ownership and ARB Application which officially recognizes them as beneficiaries.
The DAR, at present, utilizes aggressive alternative dispute resolution techniques in mediation to reduce conflicts maturing into court cases.
The general objective is to persuade the contending parties to settle their disputes amicably or out of court before the DAR.
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