02/04/2026
๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ| DAR Sarangani Upskills Field Officers on Agrarian Laws and Legal Procedural Standards
In line with its commitment to continuously strengthen the capacity of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) implementing personnel, the Legal Division of the Department of Agrarian Reform โ Sarangani Provincial Office successfully conducted a personnel capacity enhancement activity on the LTIโLegal Systems Review and Refresher on Procedural Standards in Agrarian Adjudication Cases at ZKB Twin Hotel and Convention, General Santos City, April 1 .
The activity was attended by representatives from the eight (8) DAR Municipal Offices of Sarangani and General Santos City, including Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers (MARPOs) and Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD) Point Persons. It focused on revisiting key provisions of DAR Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 08, series of 1995 on Land Transfer Actions (LTA) and DAR A.O. No. 04, series of 2021 on Land Transfer Clearance (LTC), as well as the legal and jurisprudential foundations of agrarian adjudication.
The activity also served as a platform for the dissemination of Memorandum No. 141, which provides the Operational Directives for ALI-ALA for Calendar Year 2026, highlighting the implementation and institutional integration of the Enhanced Agrarian Justice Delivery Program (AJDP).
Gracing the activity throughout its duration, PARPO II Oding B. Yusoph, JD, SCL, expressed in his message the importance of developing a clear and strategic plan to ensure that implementing guidelines remain updated and aligned with the latest DAR issuances on Agrarian Justice Delivery. He emphasized that such alignment is crucial in upholding the agencyโs integrity and in meeting ISO standards for the consistent delivery of quality public service.
PARPO I Ramonito C. Marciano likewise conveyed his appreciation to the Legal Division for organizing the activity, noting that it significantly reinforces field implementersโ understanding of organizational processes and promotes uniformity in interpretation and implementation of agrarian laws and policies.
The activity featured a series of lectures from in-house and invited resource speakers. DAR Legal Officers Atty. Queenie Rose S. Garnica and Atty. Grace A. Mascariรฑas revisited essential DAR issuances on LTA and LTC. Meanwhile, key resource speakers SARPO John Rey P. Tarraja, Section Chief of the Land Tenure Improvement Division (LTID), and ARPO I Rayzel Faye D. Guanzon, COCROM Point Person, shared insights on the operational dynamics of LTID, including verification processes, issuance of appropriate certifications, and the integration of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) in land transfer requirements under VOS and VLT/DPS schemes.
A workshop and output critiquing session followed, facilitated by Legal Point Person on Land Transfers, Ms. Wahida M. Sangkula, LPT, further enhancing participantsโ evaluation and case foldering skills.
On quasi-judicial procedural standards, Atty. Hariz Jabbar P. Disocor, RARAD XII, delivered a comprehensive discussion on agrarian adjudication, covering procedures, recent jurisprudence, and key legal considerations on ejectment cases involving agricultural lands, correction of entries in Emancipation Patents and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA), ex*****on of final decisions, and leasehold contracts.
DARPO Sarangani Chief Legal Kay P. Aviles comprehensively presented Memorandum No. 141, outlining the Operational Directives for ALI-ALA for CY 2026. She highlighted the importance of meeting performance indicators under the Zero Caseload Policy to ensure the prompt resolution of cases, as well as the strict regulation of land use conversion. She further emphasized strengthening agrarian legal assistance through disciplined and programmed filing of quasi-judicial cases, effective implementation of the Agrarian Reform Justice on Wheels (ARJOW), and strict adherence to the Automatic Referral Mechanism.
Moreover, Atty. Aviles underscored the mandatory conduct of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) proceedings and strict compliance with relevant issuances, including Memorandum No. 258, s. 2023; DAR Administrative Order No. 07, s. 2022; Memorandum No. 114, s. 2026; and DAR Memorandum Circular No. 7, series of 2024.
The Legal Division also took the opportunity to reiterate key processes, including guidelines on Applications for Cancellation under DAR A.O. No. 02, series of 2018, as amended, and the preparation of MARPO Investigation Reports for referral mechanism cases pursuant to DAR Administrative Order No. 03, series of 2011 and Department of Justice Circular No. 23, series of 2007.
During his closing message, PARPO II Yusoph expressed his appreciation for the active participation of the attendees and commended the Legal Division for facilitating the activity. He emphasized that in all official dealings and transactions within DAR Sarangani, due diligence and integrity in service and the delivery of outputs are mandatory.
In line with this, he reiterated his continued support for vital training and meaningful engagements that are beneficial in the long runโboth for DARPO employees, in terms of capacity development, and for the farmer-beneficiaries, in the agency's efforts of providing agrarian legal services.
