No More Amortization By Agrarian Reform Recipients - DAR

          ESTRELLA, GUICO GRACE ISSUANCE OF P42.3-M EQPT TO ARBOS

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella, III and Pangasinan Governor graced here the distribution of farm equipment worth P42.3 million where the former announced too the revocation of the amortization of the land of farmers who are beneficiaries of the land reform.

The momentous event coincided with the 127^th Independence Day Celebration of the country.

HUDDLE. Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrad Estrella, III (2^nd from left photo), Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III (extreme left) and La Union 2^nd District Cong. Dante Garcia listen while Pangasinan 5^th District Rep. Ramon Guico, Jr. talks to Estrella. The meeting of these top officials ensued before the distribution of farm equipment worth P42.3 million and the announcement of the DAR Secretary of the forthcoming revocation of the amortization of the land of farmers who are beneficiaries of the land reform program of the government.

The DAR Secretary said that under the bill’s New Agrarian Emancipation Act just passed by Congress and to be signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on July 7 this year the farmers who are beneficiaries through government distributed lands will no longer pay their amortization.

“Lalagdaan na po ng ating Pangulo itong panukalang batas na ito. Pag nilagdaan niya magiging batas na po ito. Ito ang pangarap ng ating mahal na pangulo at ng inyong abang lingkod pagkukunan ng mga magsasaka ng tunay na kalayaan sa utang, tunay na kalayaan sa kahirapan at ang gusto natin ay umunlad ang buhay ng lahat na mga magsasaka para lang mapakain ninyo ang sambayanang Pilipino”.

Estrella was here to spearhead the distribution to 100 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan of farm machineries and equipment worth P42.487 million

Guico told the ARBOs from the four provinces who converged at the Provincial Training and Development Center II here that the provincial government left the usual tradition of honoring national hero’s Jose Rizal by giving instead the plaudit to Governor Daniel Maramba - Grand Old Man in Pangasinan and her 7^th Governor.

The newly minted governor complimented the contribution of Maramba in the construction of roads and bridges in the province and the transfer from the Casa Real of the Capitol to its present location.

“Casa Real used to be the Provincial Capitol – the seat of the power of the province – and became a major contributor to solve the problem of rice (in the country) during the time of President Manuel Quezon. Marami pa not written in the history books not taught in school but you only learned about it from us, the family members, from fellow Pangasinenses. That’s the reason why we are celebrating our 127^th Independence localizing and giving honor to the 7^th Governor of our dear Province Pangasinan Don Daniel Maramba,” cited by Guico who is a former Congressman and a Mayor.

Senator Daniel Maramba was born in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on July 21, 170. He was educated in San Juan de Letran College, where he finished his secondary course and in the University of Santo Tomas, where he took a course in surveying. He qualified and served as Justice of the Peace of his home town, (1895-1898); Municipal Secretary (1902-03) Municipal President (1907-1908) and Provincial Governor of Pangasinan (1916-22). Maramba was a Congressman from the 3rd District of Pangasinan to the 10th Legislature (1934-1935); elected Assemblyman from the same District to the National Assembly on September 17, 1935 and re-elected to same office on November, 1938. He was a Senator supposed to serve from 1941-194 but died of tuberculosis on 28 December 1941. This was three days before his term in the Senate was due to begin amid the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II.

Before he died because of illness, Maramba according to his grandson Alikhan Maramba - the guest of honor in the earlier commemoration – that his grandfather interceded for the reconciliation of the two feuding high officials of the country.

Upon hearing the plea, Commonwealth of the Philippines President Manuel Quezon acquiesced to Senator Maramba and shook hand and embraced the youngest and 1^st President of the country’s Emilio Aquinaldo.

Guico told the crowd that he was honored to have as speaker in Sec. Estrella who came from a lineage of the great leader of the province and the national government. The present top executive of the forty-four towns and three cities’ province referred to the grandfather of the DAR top man’s and namesake the former Pangasinan Governor and Minister of the DAR.

“Now we have the grandson the honorable Secretary Conrad Estrella, III,” Guico declared that was greeted with a resounding applause from the spectators.