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ARTICLES / ESSAYS
Letter of Malaybalay
Bishop Honesto Pacana to President Arroyo Her Excellency Your Excellency: Peace! I am thankful that you have positively responded to the petition of the Sumilao farmers by revoking the conversion order issued by then Secretary Ruben Torres over the 144-hectare land in your decision of December 18 this month. Much as the Diocese of Malaybalay and the Sumilao farmers would want to celebrate such a significant event, however, I am apprehensive about its tenor and implications. For one thing, said Order does not include an explicit cease-and- desist instruction for San Miguel Foods, Inc. to stop further activities in the area. The unabated construction of buildings makes the Order practically useless, to say the least. What I also find worrisome is the fact that the Office of the President agrees with the conclusion of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); namely, that the five-year period given by the law to fully implement the development projects stipulated in the conversion order has not yet elapsed. According to DAR, the computation of said period started only upon the issuance of the development permit. Hence, there are still two more years remaining to complete the development. This interpretation, I believe, defeats the very purpose of the Agrarian Reform Program, which is to maximize the full potential of our land for the benefit of our farmers. Nevertheless, what is most important is the fact that, since the land had been returned to its former agricultural status, there appears to be no legal obstacle should the Office of the President or DAR immediately issue a Notice of Coverage without waiting for the order to become final and executory. The issuance of the Notice of Coverage will certainly give substance to what the poor Sumilao farmers have been longing for: the reclamation of their land. May the coming of Christ be for the Sumilao farmers a season full of hope, peace and joy! In Our Lord,
+HONESTO PACANA, S.J. Cc: Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Mr. John Maruhom Mr/Julio Celestiano Mr. Jesus Edrolin |
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