DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – Some 1,013 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Oriental received Electronic Land Titles (e-titles) and Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) over the holiday season.
The ARB recipients thanked DAR for the holiday present which they received in December.
The distribution of e-titles and CLOAs was held at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center, this city.
“Maayo ni siya kay naatol na Disyembre ang pagpanghatag sa maong titulo. Nahimo jud siya Pinaskuhan. Makatanom na gud ana og kahoy,” said Fidela Caballero, a beneficiary form Brgy. Don E. Villegas, Vallehermoso.
(Since the distribution of the land titles was held in December, this becomes a wonderful Christmas present for us.)
Now that she owns her farm lot, she plans to plant lumber trees and other species of hardwood that can thrive in the rocky terrain of her farm lot.
The total land area covered by the CLOA reached 6.1606 hectares while the total land covered by the e-titles is at 1,332 hectares.
DAR director IV Agnes Mendoza said that aside from receiving land titles and CLOAs, ARBs were also freed from paying amortization and other debts associated with the acquisition of their lands based on the new Agrarian Reform Emancipation Law.
With this, farmers will be eased from their financial burden and could focus more on improving their agricultural production.
“Naway ang pribilehiyong ito ay inyong ingatan at pagyamanin ang lupang isinasaka sapagkat mayroon kayong mahalagang papel para mapanatili ang seguridad ng pagkain ng bawat Pilipino,” said Mendoza.
(We hope you will take care of this and you will continue to cultivate your farm lots because you have a vital role in ensuring food security for every Filipino.)
Senator Imee Marcos was also present in the event and participated in the distribution of land titles and CLOAs.
The lady senator assured ARBs that she will continue to support interventions that would help farmers earn more and improve their economic status.
“Kinahanglan nakakatutok (lagi) sa mga mag-uuma. Alam naman natin na hindi nagtatapos sa titulo (ang pagtulong). Kailangan buligan ang mga mag-uuma. Lahat ng kinahanglan todo-todo. Tutulong ako at magbibigay rin tayo ng Kadiwa Truck, ang ating mga mini-market sa mga barangay hanggang sa bundok. Tumulong tayo sa lahat ng bagay na maaari,” Marcos said.
(It is important that we are all supporting the farmers. We all know that the interventions don’t stop after giving them the titles. We need to give them all our help and support. I commit to help them by providing Kadiwa trucks, pushing for the establishment of mini-markets in barangays up to far-flung areas. Let’s help them the best way we can.)
Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” L. Sagarbarria also promised ARBs that the provincial government will establish a Bagsakan Center in Dumaguete City.
He said this will provide farmers with a venue where they can sell their produce without middlemen, which could result to higher income for them. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
