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Comparative Study of Resettlement Projects in Two Selected Provinces in the Philippines
Dissertation Abstract:
This study was conducted to answer the following questions:
1) Did the activities of the settlers in the Central Palawan Resettlement Project (DPRP) in Narra, Palawan and the Maria Sinukuan Agricultural Cooperative Settlement in Magalang, Pampanga at the time of the study was conducted conform with the policies and guidelines of the Ministry of Agrarian Reform (MAR) and what have they done with respect to these?
2) How did the respondents perceive and what were their attitudes regarding the payment of loans from the Agricultural Credit Administration (ACA)/MAR and other lending institutions?
3) What were the effects of the resettlement program on the settlers' occupation and educational aspirations for their children?
4) How were the settlers involved in building their new communities in terms of their participation in socio-political activities?
5) How did the settlers view the infrastructures that MAR provided for?
6) How did the settlers perceive the MAR officials who are directly responsible for the management of the settlement and field tecnicians?
Findings revealed that MAR provided a set of policies or guidleines on the conduct of settlers within the settlement area, and the respondents were aware of the activities that were allowed and those that were prohibited. Only a few failed to abide by the guidleines but purposely abandoned the lands allocated to them or squatted on the farms of other settlers, explaining that their lands were very poor, marginal, and unproductive.
One major constraint identified by the respondents was the financing of various farm activities. They either borrowed money from their neighbor and relatives or approached lending institutions in the settlement for short-term production loans. Those who availed of loans were not remiss of their obligtions despite a poor harvest. Almost two-thirds of te borrowers from Magalang elected to pay their accounts in full; those from Narra preferred to pay on installment basis. Very few had no more intention of settling their accounts. Those who loaned from MAR intend to settle their accounts on the condition that their land titles be issued to them first.
Respondents preferred farming-related occupations. However, they were interested in office jobs for their children if given a choice. The majority of them also wanted their children to have a chance to study degree courses. Those who were eyeing possible jobs for their children abroad preferred vocational courses. They believed that vocational graduates were in demand in the job market.
The respondents were members of one or several civic, political, religious, or farm organizations where they had the opportunity to discuss problems that directly affected their lives. With the help of MAR officials, solutions to some of their problems were found. However, they aspired for greater unity and cooperation among them.
The various infrastructures inside the settlements were generally rated "good" by the respondents. In the "excellent" rating category, electricity market and health facilities topped the list of infrastructures. Housing, road, and school were mentioned in the "fair" rating category.
The management personnel who were directly responsible for the management of the settlement were rated "poor" by the respondents in Palawan but "fair" in Pampanga since they "do not attend to the needs of the settlers," "they are always not in their office," and "sometimes they do their duties." The field technicians in Magalang were perceived to be "fair" in their job performance while those in Narra were "poor."