Go supports DAR's 2021 proposed budget; urges department to always prioritize and ensure the welfare of poor and landless farmers

During a budget hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Finance on Tuesday, October 6, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go manifested his support for the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Agrarian Reform and urged its officials, led by Secretary John Castriciones, to always protect the welfare of the country's farmers, especially the poor and the landless.

"[Full] support po kami ni President Duterte sa Department of Agrarian Reform, ipagpatuloy ninyo po ang pagbibigay ng karapatan sa ating mga magsasaka upang malaya nilang pagyamanin ang kanilang lupang sinasaka," began Go.

"Unahin po natin ang mga mahihirap at ang mga nasa vulnerable sectors para guminhawa po ang kanilang pamumuhay," he added.

The Senator recalled an event in August this year when DAR distributed 4,500 hectares (ha) of land to some 3,035 beneficiaries, and praised the department and its staff for their work. Go's office, which had taken part in the said event, also provided aid to the beneficiaries.

"Witness po ako sa kasipagan ng inyong departamento [...] At nakita ko din talaga na walang pinipili ang inyong departamento, lalong-lalo na napatunayan ninyo mismo po sa Boracay na kung saan nabigyan po ng kanilang sariling titulo o pag-aari na lupa 'yung talagang dapat magmay-ari dun sa Boracay," he said.

"Saludo po ako sa inyo sa ginawa ninyo sa Boracay at wala kayong pinipili at 'yun po ang ipinapaalala ng ating Pangulo na ibigay ninyo po sa mga mahihirap 'yung lupa na dapat talaga sa kanila. Matagal ko na pong sinasabi, bakit hintayin pa natin na ngayong panahon na 'to na pwede naman noong una sa mga nakaraang administrasyon, pwede naman nilang gawin 'yan," he continued.

Go went on to congratulate DAR for its upcoming project called "Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling". Under the project, the government will parcelize 1,380,420 ha of land nationwide and issue individual titles to 1,140,735 agrarian reform beneficiaries. It shall commence within the month and end in 2023.

He also lauded their "Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program" which provides agrarian reform beneficiaries training, farm equipment and machineries, and access to credit and microfinancing. Go expressed confidence that the department, which has been a great help to small farmers, will also prove instrumental in developing rural areas and ensuring the nation's food security.

"Mahirap man o mayaman, dapat lahat po ng Pilipino ay magkaroon ng sariling lupa, kung ano po ang para sa kanila ay dapat mapasakanila," stressed Go.

The Senator also highlighted DAR's role in promoting rural development and providing economic opportunities in the countryside in support of the government's Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program.

"[Salamat] din po sa inyong suporta sa Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program ng ating Duterte Administration at alam ko po na malaki ang tiwala ko sa inyong departamento na uunahin ninyo po ang ating mahihirap na kababayan, " he added.