SORSOGON HAS NOW A DARAB OFFICE

NEWS RELEASE

SORSOGON PROVINCE - With the existence of the newly blessed Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Adjudication Board (DARAB)Office, Sorsoganons are now assured of a fast and efficient service over agrarian disputes involving the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The blessing of the office officiated by Rev. Fr. Rene Mabute just recently was witnessed by some DAR Sorsogon personnel headed by Roseller R. Olayres, PARO II; and other personnel coming from the DARAB and Legal Division of DAR Provincial Office of Albay headed respectively by Atty. Alberto Besinal and Atty. Zaldy Ll. Monilla.

DARAB is one of the forces of the Office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)Secretary. It also has field offices in the different regions and provinces across the country, headed by the Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD).

In Sorsogon province, DARAB Office is located at Goodwill Subdivision, Sorsogon City (near GSIS Bldg), headed by Atty. Raddy T. Tolentino.

The DARAB has primary and exclusive jurisdiction, both original and appellate, to determine and adjudicate all agrarian disputes involving the implementation of the CARP under RA 6657 as amended by RA 9700, EO Nos. 228, and 129-A, RA 3844 as amended by RA 6389, PD 27 and other agrarian laws and their implementing rules and regulations.

Specifically, such jurisdiction shall include but not limited to cases involving the rights and obligations of persons engaged in the management, cultivation and use of all agricultural lands covered by the CARP and other agrarian laws; valuation of land and preliminary determination and payment of just compensation, fixing and collection of lease rentals, disturbance compensation, amortization payments and similar disputes concerning the functions of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP); annulment or cancellation of lease contracts or deeds of sale or their amendments involving lands under the administration and disposition of the DAR or LBP; sale, alienation, mortgage, foreclosure, pre-emption and redemption of agricultural lands under the coverage of the CARP or other agrarian laws; issuance, correction and cancellation of Certificates of Landownership Award (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents (EPs) which are registered with the Land Registration Authority; cases arising from, or connected with membership or representation in compact farms, farmers’ cooperatives and other registered farmers’ associations or organizations, related to lands covered by the CARP and other agrarian laws; cases previously falling under the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the defunct Court of Agrarian Relations; and such other agrarian cases, disputes, matters or concerns referred to it by the DAR Secretary.

However, matters involving strictly the administrative implementation of the CARP and agrarian laws and regulations, shall be the exclusive prerogative of and cognizable by the DAR Secretary.

“It has been so long that Sorsogon has no PARAD that’s why, I took this initiative so that the people of Sorsogon may know that there is a DAR Adjudication Board,” Atty. Tolentino said.

The cases that were brought to DARAB were formerly handled by the RARAD (Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator) since the retirement of Atty. Manuel Capellan, the first PARAD of Sorsogon.

Until in April of this present year, new PARADs were appointed to respond the needs of the public. [arbolente, DAR Sorsogon/PIA]