INCOMING Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III vowed to immediately resolve the confusion and “disorder” in the Collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CCLOA) grant to farmer-beneficiaries.

In an interview with House Assistant Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Niña Taduran on DWIZ 882 KHZ AM, Estrella, who was the current representative of the ABONO Party-list, said that the “parcelization” or distribution of land can be a “fast-tracked” through the help of local government officials who must mediate among the farmer-beneficiaries.

“Sa isang, kunwari, ay isandaang ektarya ng lupa na ipinamigay sa dalawampung magsasaka, hindi naman specific kung what part ng lupa ang i-o-occupy nila. Nagkakaroon tuloy ng confusion.

Mayroon ngang mga na-issue-han na ng CCLOA pero hindi pa rin makapasok sa lupang ibinigay sa kanila. Makakatulong ang LGU (local government unit) officials para pag-usap-usapin ang mga magsasaka at malaman kung anong parte ng lupa ang sa kanila, para mabigyan na sila ng individual title,” said Estrella, a Deputy Speaker.

Also, Estrella said that some farmer-beneficiaries have failed to pay the amortization for the awarded land, and the amortization table is not updated.

He said that although the government is already subsidizing part of their payment, some farmers still fail to pay or have mortgaged the awarded share of land to other farmers.

Estrella has a radical solution to the unpaid amortization of the farmers.

“Baka ‘yung cost ng pag-u-update ng amortization table, baka mas mataas pa kaysa sa benefit na mako-collect natin. So kung ganon din lang, i-condone na lang natin. Hindi na sisingilin ng government at bibigyan na lang sila ng titulo,” Estrella said.

The grandson of the former Minister of Agrarian Reform Conrado Estrella said he believes that the government can use the soft loan granted by the World Bank to condone the unpaid amortization of the farmers.

The soft loan amounting to P24.6 billion is originally for the fast-tracking of subdividing and titling of 1.3 million hectares of agricultural lands under CCLOA.

The incoming DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) Secretary also denied that there was a promise to lower the price of rice to P20 per kilo next year.

“I’m not dampening the hopes of the people, but I will not sugarcoat. Dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina at pagtaas ng presyo ng fertilizer, baka mahirapan tayo sa P20,” said Estrella.

“Sa ating mga magsasaka, huwag po tayong bibitaw sapagkat ang administrasyong Marcos ay pagtutuunan kayo ng higit na pansin. Kailangan ito para hindi tayo magkaroon ng food shortage, para magkaroon ng food security,” ended Estrella.