BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — There are no existing lands that can be subjected to land reform in Malay town, including Boracay Island, records from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Aklan province showed. The data was confirmed by DAR officials even if top officials of the agency, led by Acting Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones arrived in Boracay on Tuesday for a two-day inspection and validation of at least 4 hectares of “patches” of land that could be placed under the government’s land reform program. Several Boracay residents have expressed disbelief that there are still areas in Boracay suitable for land reform and farming as most of the land on the island have residential or commercial structures. Asked why the DAR was identifying possible land reform areas in Boracay despite data from its Aklan office, Undersecretary David Erro said: “The President ordered Boracay to be placed under agrarian reform so the DAR is checking.”Estimates“Initially, there are 4 ha (that have been identified). “There is no confirmation whether there is or there is no land available for agrarian reform (in Boracay).

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 24, 2018 21:11 UTC