Barely a year since she was installed as DAR Region 02 OIC-Regional Director last April 19, 2012, Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson said that despite the odds, “we have proven that we can do the job and CARPER implementation is proceeding well”.

In the recently concluded National Assessment held in Clark Pampanga, Region 02 ranked third in Land Acquisition and Distributionwith an accomplishment of 102.22% percent for 2012. The Regional Director explains that the accomplishment represents 8,058 hectares out of the 7,883-hectare target covering 3,569 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Director Aysonadded that Region 02’s performance on LAD is a forthright pronouncement of the region’s goal of becoming a stronger partner of the Central Office and other regions at every level of CARPER implementation. Furthermore, Secretary Virgiliodelos Reyes’ strong resolve to fast track the implementation of the CARPER has fueled the Region’s performance.

Cagayan with PARO II Virgilio M. Acasili at the helmdistributed 175 hectares as against their target of 965 with 30 landholdings given and 119 farmer beneficiariesinvolved.Isabela under the leadership of PARO II Alfredo B. Lorenzo registered 1,046 hectares as against their target of 3,706.Isabela gave out 156 landholdings with its performance reaching 818 beneficiaries. The highest contributor in the region is the province of Nueva Vizcaya under the tutelage of PARO II Joselito O. Garcia having distributed 6, 832 hectares out of 3,212 target. Nueva Vizcaya has competitively delivered with 23 landholdings disposed of to 17 farmer beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the provinces of Batanes and Quirino are already LAD-free but the latter was able to post a five-hectare accomplishment.

This year, Region 02 has also surpassed its target of 160 hectares for Leasehold Operations with 345-hectare accomplishment. This area translates to 215.63%.

Director Ayson also acknowledged the fact that the success of the CARPER will be gauged on the improvement of the quality of lives of the ARBs and expects that farm production and income of farmers will improve through the distribution of lands to the farmers. She added that DAR’s work does not end in land distribution alone, but also in the support services to ARBs and delivery of agrarian justice.