DIMASALANG, MASBATE — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, January 9, emphasized that he is prioritizing land reform in the entire country, especially in areas where there are issues between landlords and tenants.
“Ako almost every week umiikot ako sa buong Pilipinas nagdi-distribute ako ng certificate of ownership kasi ang land reform, sinabi ko talaga kay Castriciones, ‘unahin mo ‘yan’. Lalo na sa mga lugar na merong mainit talaga ang issue ng landlord pati tenant,” the Chief Executive said during his remarks at the Negosyo sa Serbisyo sa Barangay held at Patio de Milagros Resort.
The President has led the distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) in Kidapawan City, Aklan, Region X, Region VI, and the Bondoc Peninsula.
Likewise, the President vowed to place the entire province of Masbate under land reform.
“I-land reform ko ang Masbate. Maniwala kayo. Itaga ninyo sa bato ‘yan… Babalik ako dito at sabihin ko sa Secretary ng DAR, Castriciones, pag-aralan mo kasi ibigay natin lahat,” he said.
He also pleaded a call to NPA rebels to surrender, as he promised to provide them with housing and livelihood assistance from various government agencies.
“Sumurrender kayo. Bigyan ko kayo ng lupa, i-land reform ko muna ‘to at itatayuan ko kayo ng bahay. At for the meantime na pinag-aralan ninyo paano maghanap-buhay, papapasukin ko dito ang TESDA, ‘yung livelihood, electricians, tapos ang DSWD kung ano pang matulong nila,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive ordered the electric cooperative in the province to shape up.
“Ibigay ko ito sa may pera. Choose. You improve the place, maghiram kayo ng pera, kumpletuhin ninyo ang franchise or I will expropriate you and place it there in the block,” he said.
He explained that a cooperative could not sustain a system of electricity if the civilization has already increased “unless you’re a cooperative member, who got the money or a group of people who have it.”
President Duterte warned that if the cooperative fails to improve in two to three months, their franchise would be expropriated.
“Now I will give you about until March o April. Pagka hindi, i-expropriate ko ‘yung franchise ninyo. Ibigay ko sa mga mayaman,” he added that the franchise would be up for bidding if they fail to comply.
The Chief Executive noted that other countries such as Japan, Korea, or China might be interested, as well as billionaires in the country.
Apart from these concerns, President Duterte added that another reason he visited the province was to look into reports of series of ambushes towards his policemen. He suspects that communist rebels are the ones responsible for this atrocities.
“Kaya ako nandito kasi nababasa ko na lang sa briefer ko gabi-gabi halos araw-araw may ambush dito ng pulis. Eh palagay ko it is being perpetuated by the New People’s Army,” the President said.
“Prangkahan ko kayo, kasi sabi ko nga parang — parang na-piss off na talaga ako. Bakit mga pulis sige… Ang pulis bakit namamatay? Nagpapa-ambush kayo,” he added.
Distribution of livelihood packages in Masbate
Meanwhile, at the event, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the awarding of livelihood seeding kits and checks for loan borrowers.
He granted sari-sari store vendors with livelihood seeding kits with 10,000 worth of goods.
At the same time, the Chief Executive distributed checks for beneficiaries of the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program who will avail of the Small Business Corporation’s direct lending scheme.
The President also awarded marker plaques of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) for Tech4Ed centers in three schools inside the province.###PND
