Empowerment and Authority of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
- DAR is vested with legal mandate to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by Executive Order No. 129-A and R.A. No. 6657.
- DAR empowered to formulate and promulgate operational policies, rules, and regulations to facilitate CARP implementation (Section 5(c), E.O. No. 129-A; Section 49, R.A. No. 6657).
- The policy guidelines enacted serve to remove impediments to timely CARP implementation.
Scope of the Administrative Order
- Applies to all pending acquisition and distribution proceedings involving agricultural lands under CARP or other agrarian reform laws.
- Specifically targets lands with pending protests, coverage issues, applications for exemptions, exclusions, conversions, or legal cases impeding land distribution.
Priority and Continuity of LAD Process
- LAD process takes precedence over all other cases and proceedings once initiated, continuing to completion with ARB installation.
- Filing of petitions for protest, exemption, exclusion, or any agrarian-related cases shall not halt LAD activities.
- Exceptions for suspension are limited to official orders from the DAR Secretary (Cease and Desist Order or Status Quo Order) or the Supreme Court (Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction).
Handling of Conversion and Survey Issues
- Applications or proceedings for land conversion do not stop LAD; conversion applications on pending LAD lands shall be immediately denied.
- No unauthorized change of land use from agricultural to non-agricultural shall affect LAD absent a final conversion order.
- Survey complications or protests against coverage cannot be used as justifications for delaying LAD activities.
Revocation of Exemptions, Exclusions, or Conversion Orders
- Upon Secretary’s revocation of exemption, exclusion, or conversion orders, LAD must immediately proceed notwithstanding appeals unless officially suspended.
Support Services for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)
- DAR must ensure ARBs are afforded appropriate support services essential for successful agrarian reform implementation after installation.
Operating Procedures
- Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officers (PARPOs) are tasked to:
- Identify and validate agricultural landholdings and pending cases covered by protests or petitions.
- Notify landowners and involved parties regarding continuation of LAD initiatives.
- Complete the LAD process and ensure ARBs' installation per existing rules.
- Enforce physical possession and control by ARBs, calling on law enforcement agencies for assistance if necessary.
- Conduct post-installation assessments and continue installations until all CLOA holders have full possession.
Suspension of Rules
- The DAR Secretary has discretionary authority to suspend these rules to serve and protect justice interests.
Repealing and Amendatory Provisions
- Repeals or modifies inconsistent provisions from existing Administrative Orders Nos. 7 (2011), 9 (2011), 11 (2014), and 5 (2015) and related issuances.
Separability Clause
- If any provision declared unconstitutional, it shall not affect the others which remain valid and enforceable.
Retroactive Effectivity
- The Administrative Order applies retroactively to cover prior pending cases or proceedings.
Effectivity
- Effective ten days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation.
This comprehensive framework is designed to expedite agrarian reforms, uphold beneficiaries' rights, and ensure that legal and procedural hindrances do not delay land acquisition and distribution under CARP.