Creation of an Inter-Agency Task Force for the Condonation of Agrarian Reform Land Amortization Liabilities

May 11, 2007

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 176

CREATION OF AN INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE CONDONATION OF AGRARIAN REFORM LAND AMORTIZATION LIABILITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Article XIII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to undertake, by law, an agrarian reform program founded on the right of farmers and regular farmworkers who are landless to own directly or collectively the lands they till or, in the case of other farmworkers, to receive a just share of the fruits thereof; TIAEac

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. (RA) 6657 n , otherwise known as the Comprehensive Land Reform Law of 1988, was enacted to institute the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to promote social justice and move the nation toward sound rural development and industrialization;

WHEREAS, Section 26 of RA 6657 n provides that lands awarded through CARP shall be paid for by the beneficiaries of the Land Bank of the Philippines in thirty (30) annual amortizations at six percent (6%) per annum;

WHEREAS, there is a need to review the possibility of condoning outstanding land amortization liabilities of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs);

NOW THEREFORE I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation of the Inter-Agency Task Force. — An Inter-Agency Task Force is hereby created to review the possibility of condoning outstanding land amortization liabilities of ARBs:

Chairman:	Secretary of Agrarian Reform
Members:	Secretary of Justice
Secretary of Finance
Representative from the Land Bank of the Philippines
Representative from the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries

The Department of Agrarian Reform shall serve as Secretariat for the Inter-Agency Task Force.

SECTION 2. Functions of the Inter-Agency Task Force. — The Inter-Agency Task Force shall perform the following functions:

a. Evaluate and recommend reforms in the existing agrarian reform models; and

b. Evaluate the proposed condonation of outstanding amortization liabilities of ARBs to effect genuine land redistribution.

The Inter-Agency Task Force shall submit to the President a report on the foregoing concerns within One Hundred Twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this order.

SECTION 3. Inter-Agency Coordination. — All national government agencies concerned and attached agencies, local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations and other instrumentalities of the government are hereby directed to cooperate and give their full support to the Inter-Agency Task Force.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. — All issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Administrative Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. — This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.

 

n Note from the Publisher: Written as "Republic Act No. (RA) 6557" in the original document.

n Note from the Publisher: Written as "RA 6557" in the original document.