TURNOVER RITES
NEW Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano accepts the flag of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) from his predecessor, out-going Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, during the symbolic turnover ceremonies at the DAR covered court in Diliman, Quezon City. Mariano minced no word as he sent a strong message to all landowners that the last thing on his mind is to see a farmer being evicted from a farmlot he or she is tilling regardless of whether or not he or she is an agrarian reform beneficiary. He added that he would work for the enactment of the “Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill,” which calls for the awarding of farmlots to farmer-beneficiaries for free. (Public Assistance and Media Relations Service, Department of Agrarian Reform)
Opisyal ng nanungkulan bilang bagong kalihim ng Department of Agrarian Reform o DAR si Rafael “Ka paeng” Mariano.
Sa ginanap na turn-over ceremony, personal na iniabot ni outgoing Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes ang bandila ng tanggapan kay “Ka paeng” bilang hudyat ng pag-uumpisa ng panunungkulan nito bilang bagong kalihim ng kagawaran.
Sa naging pananalita ni Secretary Mariano, ipinaaabot nito sa lahat ng mga landowners na ang huling bagay umano na sasagi sa kanyang isipan ay ang makita ang isang magsasaka na mapaalis mula sa lupang sinasaka, siya man ay benepisyaryo ng repormang pansakahan o hindi.
Sinabi din ni Secretary Mariano na patuloy nitong isusulong ang pagsasabatas ng “Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill” o GARB na magsisilbing daan para makatanggap ng lupa ang mga magsasakang benepisyaryo ng walang babayaran. # (jnormt/Public Assistance and Media Relations Service, Department of Agrarian Reform)
