IBA, Zambales (PIA) -- A total of 29 farmers in Botolan, Zambales received their electronic titles (E-titles) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

This covers more than 69 hectares of land located in Barangay Poonbato.

DAR Zambales Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Emmanuel Aguinaldo said the World Bank-funded Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project aims to improve the security of farmers in the land they are cultivating and strengthen their rights as beneficiaries.

Aguinaldo reminded the beneficiaries to take good care of the land because it is a blessing that will truly help them. He also urged them to form an association or join a cooperative to fully benefit from the support services provided by DAR.

68-year old Nestor Dumlao, one of the recipients, thanked DAR for the E-title he received.  "I am thankful to DAR that I received a title I finally own. I can say now that this is really mine,” he said.

SPLIT aims to fast track the parcelization of agricultural landholdings covered under the agrarian reform program. (CLJD/RGP-PIA 3)