October 25, 1973

DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 27-73

SUBJECT    :     Operation Land Transfer in Pilot Municipalities and Provinces

            When we started Operation Land Transfer, we established the first pilot municipalities of:   SHTEaA

1.      San Mateo, Isabela                            6.      Calamba, Laguna

2.      Guimba, Nueva Ecija                         7.      Tigaon, Camarines Sur

3.      Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija                      8.      Pototan, Iloilo

4.      Plaridel, Bulacan                                9.      Dingle, Iloilo

5.      Biñan, Laguna

            Subsequently, the following pilot municipalities were also established:

1.      Bongabon, Nueva Ecija                     5.      Minalin, Pampanga

2.      Concepcion, Tarlac                             6.      Calumpit, Bulacan

3.      Capas, Tarlac                                      7.      Carcar, Cebu

4.      Mabalacat, Pampanga                       8.      Kanagna, Leyte

            We would like to test the complete Operation Land Transfer in two pilot provinces, namely: Nueva Ecija and Camarines Sur.

            These pilot projects were set up by the DAR in strategic areas covered by PD 27 in compliance with the Memorandum of the President to the Secretary of Agrarian Reform and Secretary of Finance, dated November 25, 1972, and Letter of Instruction No. 46 addressed to the Secretary of Agrarian Reform, dated December 7, 1972, for the purpose of, as stated in the Letter of Instruction, ". . . the implementation of the Government's Land Reform Program pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 27, . . ." and also, as stated this time in the Presidential Memorandum, . . ." in order that we can incorporate the lessons learned in such pilot projects . . ." in the implementing rules and regulations. Letter of Instruction No. 46 continues further, and I quote the following pertinent portions:

            "3.     If your experience after operating within the limited sphere of the pilot projects points to the necessity of implementing Presidential Decree No. 27 by phases, you shall be guided in the implementation of the program in each region or province by the following priorities:

            These instructions are issued to insure the efficient and orderly administration and implementation of the land reform program. . . .".

            Thus, it is clear that the pilot projects were set up to serve as trial units on a small scale for experimenting or testing the full implementation of Presidential Decree No. 27 ". . . within the limited spheres of the pilot projects . . ." in order ". . . to insure the efficient and orderly administration and implementation of the land reform program . . ." throughout the country, it is only natural that the operation land transfer, which is a part of the implementation of PD 27, be fully undertaken in the pilot projects to cover all tenanted rice/corn lands, even those landholdings below the so-called "priority area of 24 hectares and over", subject, however, to the landowners' retention area set forth in the Decree, itself in conjunction with Letter of Instruction No. 143 and to the implementing rules and regulations as may be promulgated therefor.   cIADaC

            In view of the foregoing, Operation Land Transfer in pilot municipalities and provinces shall be undertaken up to the seven (7) hectares retention limit as stated in PD No. 27 in conjunction with the Letter of Instruction No. 143 and to the provisions of the implementing rules and regulations that may be hereinafter promulgated. The entire operation land transfer will be tested to include land valuation, organization of Samahang Nayon; issuance of the emancipation patents in pursuance to PD No. 266 and the modes of payment per PD No. 251.

            This circular supersedes all other circulars/directives concerning the procedures in the conduct of production survey/parcellary mapping/reporting relative to Operation Land Transfer.

            For strict compliance.

(SGD.) CONRADO F. ESTRELLA
Secretary