CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has pledged to continue aiding agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Central Luzon for their better future.
During the fifth episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas of the Philippine Information Agency, DAR Regional Director James Arsenio Ponce announced that with the support of its partners, particularly the media, the agency will persistently offer opportunities and programs to help ARBs in the region.
“We have received a total of 34 awards in Land Tenure Security, Support to Parcelization of Land for Individual Titling, Program Beneficiaries Development, and Support to Operations during the 2023 National Formative Assessment. We aim to serve more ARBs and achieve similar success in 2024,” he added.
Ponce urged everyone to sustain their efforts for the region’s farmers. “We are committed to delivering justice and equity to our farmers. The distribution of land titles demonstrates our dedication to agrarian reform,” he stated.
The official emphasized that land ownership is a fundamental right the government is determined to uphold.
Ponce explained that the agency’s distribution process involves a rigorous assessment to identify qualified beneficiaries. “Farmers undergo verification to ensure they meet the criteria set forth by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Once verified, DAR processes the land titles, including surveying land parcels, resolving conflicts, and coordinating with local government units,” he said.
The agency’s initiative also includes support services to help farmers maximize the use of their newly acquired lands.
These services encompass access to credit, training in sustainable farming practices, and infrastructure development such as irrigation systems and farm-to-market roads.
Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Director Odgie Cayabyab attributed the accomplishments of DAR Central Luzon to their provincial offices. “To sum it all up, we are happy with the region’s achievements in 2023, and we hope to replicate this success in 2024,” he added.
The farmers expressed their gratitude and optimism about the future. Romulo Rejano, an ARB and Manager of Bagong Sigla Bagong Pag-asa ARB Cooperative in Aurora, shared his excitement.
“Thank you for the land given by DAR here in Barangay Suguit, Maria Aurora. We value this land to help improve our family’s standard of living,” Rejano said.
Likewise, Maria Christina Samaniego, an ARB from San Rafael, Bulacan, expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for awarding her and her family titles under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project for the land they inherited from their father.
These sentiments echo the broader commitment of the government to agrarian reform, which PBBM has highlighted as a cornerstone of national development.
The administration’s dedication to uplifting agricultural communities across the country is evident through these ongoing efforts and successes. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3- Pampanga)
