BCDA, bank squabble delaying land payment
CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE—Farmers who own pieces of property that are on the path of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project (SCTEx) are victims of an “interagency” squabble between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Land Bank of the Phils., a former top official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said yesterday.
Felicito Payumo, in a phone interview, said the farmers have already paid for the lands they obtained through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
But Narciso Abaya, president of the BCDA, said he won’t be pressured into paying for lands that have no clean titles.
“We risk [facing] cases from the Commission on Audit. We have to follow the rule of law [in acquiring right-of-way for government projects],” Abaya said in a phone interview in reaction to the demand for payments by Payumo on behalf of three farmers in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
Abaya said the BCDA has the money and is ready to pay when the farmers produce the certificate of full payment and release of real estate mortgage from the LandBank.
Payumo, in a phone interview, said the original landowner filed a just compensation case that contested the acquisition price set by the Department of Agrarian Reform.
“The LandBank wants the BCDA to sign a deed of commitment that BCDA would pay [the bank] if the valuation determined by the court is higher than the acquisition price by the government. BCDA has not done so,” said Payumo.
“So, it’s a case of interagency squabble between lawyers of BCDA and LandBank. Caught in this gridlock are the farmers,” he said in a statement.
He said the farmers have been waiting for payments for more than two years.
Abaya denied that the BCDA has already prepared a draft of the deed of commitment.
Payumo said it was Rex Chan, BCDA vice president for operations, who claimed that the draft has been sent to the LandBank, which a bank official denied.
Abaya said his agency has prepared a manager’s check for the three parcels of land totaling 1.4 hectares. The BCDA filed an expropriation case on Thursday.
“The expropriation case was meant to break the impasse with the former owner of the land,” Abaya said.
He said the Allied Bank, the land’s former owner, was demanding just compensation.
“Let me categorically say that whatever amount the court dictates, we are ready to [pay] even today,” Abaya said in a separate statement.
“As president of BCDA, I am on top of the situation, including this case… Since 2005, there was no letup on our quest for a resolution of this problem,” he said.
By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer
Felicito Payumo, in a phone interview, said the farmers have already paid for the lands they obtained through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
But Narciso Abaya, president of the BCDA, said he won’t be pressured into paying for lands that have no clean titles.
“We risk [facing] cases from the Commission on Audit. We have to follow the rule of law [in acquiring right-of-way for government projects],” Abaya said in a phone interview in reaction to the demand for payments by Payumo on behalf of three farmers in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
Abaya said the BCDA has the money and is ready to pay when the farmers produce the certificate of full payment and release of real estate mortgage from the LandBank.
Payumo, in a phone interview, said the original landowner filed a just compensation case that contested the acquisition price set by the Department of Agrarian Reform.
“The LandBank wants the BCDA to sign a deed of commitment that BCDA would pay [the bank] if the valuation determined by the court is higher than the acquisition price by the government. BCDA has not done so,” said Payumo.
“So, it’s a case of interagency squabble between lawyers of BCDA and LandBank. Caught in this gridlock are the farmers,” he said in a statement.
He said the farmers have been waiting for payments for more than two years.
Abaya denied that the BCDA has already prepared a draft of the deed of commitment.
Payumo said it was Rex Chan, BCDA vice president for operations, who claimed that the draft has been sent to the LandBank, which a bank official denied.
Abaya said his agency has prepared a manager’s check for the three parcels of land totaling 1.4 hectares. The BCDA filed an expropriation case on Thursday.
“The expropriation case was meant to break the impasse with the former owner of the land,” Abaya said.
He said the Allied Bank, the land’s former owner, was demanding just compensation.
“Let me categorically say that whatever amount the court dictates, we are ready to [pay] even today,” Abaya said in a separate statement.
“As president of BCDA, I am on top of the situation, including this case… Since 2005, there was no letup on our quest for a resolution of this problem,” he said.
By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
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