(NAR) VOL. 6 NO. 1 / JANUARY - MARCH 1995
In order to facilitate and expedite the development of agro-tourism facilities in the country, in accordance with the government's Tourism Master Plan, and to enhance the role and participation of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in such a scheme, the following guidelines are hereby promulgated.
II
Legal Basis
Section 27 of RA 6657 provides: "Lands acquired by beneficiaries under this Act may not be sold, transferred or conveyed except through hereditary succession, to the government, or the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), or to other qualified beneficiaries for a period of ten (10) years xxx"
This section prohibits the transfer of title of the awarded property within a period of ten (10) years; however, the DAR, may, in meritorious cases, allow the lease or joint venture arrangement of such property in order to fulfill the general objective of agrarian reform in terms of uplifting the quality of life of the ARBs.
III
Policy Directives
A. The objectives and goals of agro-tourism and agrarian reform shall be deemed complementary and in support of one another, provided the guidelines and safeguards under this Order are adhered to.
B. ARBs who have title over the property under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and whose lands earmarked for agro-tourism development, may adopt the following schemes:
C. The above-mentioned schemes shall be allowed only on the following conditions:
Strict compliance of the provisions of Administrative Order No. 20, Series of 1992, issued by President Fidel V. Ramos, pertinent to the non-negotiability of irrigated or irrigable lands shall be required.
D. In the event that the project meets all the conditions herein stated, the DAR shall consider the project as supportive of the aims and objectives of CARP. The lease or joint venture agreement may be executed within the ten-year period provided in Section 27 of RA 6657, and no conversion order would be required considering that the dominant use of the project is still agricultural.
IV
Operating Procedures
A. The project documents and the pertinent lease or joint venture agreements shall be submitted by the DOT to the DAR Regional Director who shall be principally in charge of the review of the project to conform with the spirit and objectives of this Order.
B. The Regional Director, in consultation with field personnel, shall then propose his recommendations to the Secretary who shall approve or disapprove the same.
C. All lease/sublease or joint venture agreements shall have the conformity of DAR Secretary.
V
Monitoring
The Undersecretary for Field Operations and Support Services shall monitor and evaluate the operations of the project through the DAR Regional Office and submit a quarterly report to the Secretary.
VI
Effectivity
This Administrative Order shall take effect ten (10) days after its publication in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Section 49 of R.A. 6657. All orders, circulars, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked, amended, or modified as the case may be.
Adopted: 23 Mar. 1994
(SGD.) ERNESTO D. GARILAO
Secretary