AGRARIAN Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella on Saturday disclosed that he has ordered a moratorium on the distribution of lands in state universities and colleges amid the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 75.
In a radio interview, Estrella said that under EO 75 series of 2019 issued by former President Rodrigo Duterte, all departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities of the government were tasked to identify lands suitable for agriculture for distribution to landless war veterans, surviving spouses or orphaned children, retired military and police personnel and agricultural courses graduates.
“I am putting a moratorium on the lands owned by state colleges and universities. We should study the implications as the lands owned by the universities are usually used in the research of students, especially those who are studying agriculture,” Estrella said.
Estrella added that more than 200,000 hectares of government lands are expected to be covered under EO 75.
“So far, at least 100,000 government lands are ready for distribution,” he added.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed to pursue the distribution of unused government agricultural lands.
Estrella added that the DAR is working double time to speed up the distribution of idle government-owned lands.
