The process hopes to validate all 6,212 farmer-beneficiaries in Hacienda Luisita, covering 4,099.92 hectares in 10 barangays, by March 24. Last year, DAR Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano already spoke out against the “aryendo” system in Hacienda Luisita, citing reports that local government officials and former managers and supervisors of Hacienda Luisita Inc. have been renting tracts of land from farmers at an annual rate of P10,000 per hectare. “The ‘aryendo’ system must stop. They must be charged for obstruction of land reform in Hacienda Luisita,” Mariano had said in October, in his statement marking his first 100 days in office. Mariano added that the “lease-back” system has only continued to “disenfranchise” farmers.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 08, 2017 13:41 UTC