Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Central Luzon farmers charge at DAR amid worsening landgrabbing and conversions after March kampuhan dialogues. Facebook/Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas - KMP

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Central Luzon farmers charge at DAR amid worsening landgrabbing and conversions after March kampuhan dialogues. Facebook/Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas - KMP 

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

MANILA &mdash; The Department of Agrarian Reform had to field allegations that its secretary, Conrado Estrella III, was difficult to reach as it presented its P16.935-billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 before the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, September 3.During interpellation, Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando questioned Estrella on his alleged failure to accommodate farmers who went to his office for a dialogue on concerns on their Certificates of Land Ownership Award.San Fernando also said DAR often passes agrarian reform beneficiaries, or ARBs, with Municipal Agrarian Reform Offices referring them to Provincial Agrarian Reform Offices. He said the PAROs then tell farmers to go to the MAROs to have their concerns addressed.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/2/house-approves-bill-condoning-agri-loan-penalties-for-farmers-arbs-2053">House approves bill condoning agri loan penalties for farmers, ARBs&nbsp;</a></div>&quot;Ako po mismo ay pumunta at sumama sa DAR kasama ng mga magsasaka&hellip;tatlong araw kaming nakakampo don at hindi man lang ninyo kami hinarap, Mr. Secretary,&quot; San Fernando added.&nbsp;(I went with farmers to the DAR office once... we camped there for three days and you did not even come out to talk to us, Mr. Secretary.)Estrella, a former party-list representative, said the agency is very accommodating to visitors, especially to his former colleagues at the House.&ldquo;Nung pumunta kayo doon sa opisina&hellip;yun ho yung mga panahon na ako po ay nasa ospital,&quot; Estrella said. He said he had kidney stones removed.(When you went to our office, that was the time that I was at the hospital.)He said he was not hiding from San Fernando and the farmers and apologized for not meeting them.He also urged San Fernando to report incidents to him so he could take action on inaction by DAR staff.<div><a href="http://The June 10 Land Rights Committee coalition holds a press conference outside the Department of Agrarian Reform building in Quezon City on Monday, June 8. Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News">Peasant groups demand action on agrarian reform issues, camp out at DAR headquarters </a></div>&ldquo;Marami na ho kaming pinagbakasyon dahil sa mga kalokohang ginagawa nila,&rdquo; Estrella added.&nbsp;(We have sent many on vacation because of their mischief.)The DAR chief promised to make sure that qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries will received what is due them, claiming his staff are &quot;ready to shoot it out&quot; to help ARBs take possession of land awarded to them.&quot;Ngayon ho, magsabi lang ho kayo kung anong mga lugar na ito ay agad-agad aaksyunan natin kung ayon sa ating mga batas,&quot; he also told San Fernando.

During interpellation, Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando questioned DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III on his alleged failure to accommodate farmers who went to his office for a dialogue on concerns on their Certificates of Land Ownership Award.

During interpellation, Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando questioned DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III on his alleged failure to accommodate farmers who went to his office for a dialogue on concerns on their Certificates of Land Ownership Award.

DAR chief called out at budget hearing for alleged snub of farmers, congressman

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DAR chief called out at budget hearing for alleged snub of farmers, congressman

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2026 05:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Agrarian Reform

Agrarian Reform

Conrado Estrella III

Elijah San Fernando

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