The Department of Agrarian Reform distributed 7,709 hectares of agricultural land to 7,268 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Occidental, Thursday, September 30.
Secretary John Castriciones led the distribution of 12,054 Certificates of Land Ownership Awards to beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program during the EPs/CLOAs Distributions conducted at the Pontevedra gym.
Of the number, 4, 119.5624 hectares were distributed to 3,926 farmer-beneficiaries from various municipalities and cities in north Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, 3, 342 agrarian reform beneficiaries would share among themselves the 3,589.5345 hectares of agricultural lands in the southern part of the province.
These are covered by 5, 321 land titles involving various landholdings located in various localities in south Negros Occidental.
Castriciones said farmer-beneficiaries deserved to get all the help that they need since they have played important roles in saving the community, especially during the pandemic.
”Our farmers are our heroes for they are providing food on our table and we must thank them for playing a critical role in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and embracing all the challenges to produce food more sustainably,” Castriciones said.
Castriciones also added that the province of Negros Occidental is considered as the highland area for having the highest target of land acquisition and distribution in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
To date, the agency has a remaining balance of more than 124,000 hectares of agricultural lands, which are yet to be distributed to agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, in order to ensure the standard of living of farmer-beneficiaries, he encouraged them to form cooperatives or organizations to avail bundles of support services particularly from the agency.
DAR-6 director Sheila Enciso, who was also present during the activity, reminded the farmer-beneficiaries to not engage in illegal activities such as leasing, selling, illegal transfer and illegal conversion of CARP-awarded lands.
Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso expressed his gratitude to DAR for choosing the municipality to host the activity.
The activity has served as an opportunity for him to thank the agency for his town is one of the luckiest local government units to receive various support services from DAR, Alonso said.
“Today, Pontevedra has more or less 4,500 farmer-beneficiaries and 17 agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations who are now serving as active partners of the LGU in the formation and implementation of several development plans,” Alonso added.
Alonso also expressed his continued support and commitment to the agency in the implementation of CARP as a tool to achieve social justice, equitable land ownership and to eliminate landownership classes in the society.
Castriciones also led the installation of 51 ARBs of the 4 landholdings located at Barangay Abo-abo in Murcia.
These ARBs would share the 48.5136 hectares of the landholdings covered by the agency through CARP.*