Some 41 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) received land titles and were installed in two separate landholdings in the southern part of Negros Occidental this week.
The distribution and installation rites were facilitated by the Department of Agrarian Reform-Negros Occidental 2, under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
On Thursday, 32 ARBs in Bago City were given certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) with a total of 60 titles for the 13.28 hectares of property formerly owned by Luisa Villanueva in Hacienda Nalupitan, Barangay Binubuhan.
During the distribution activity, Marilou Tubesa, chief agrarian reform program officer for land tenure security program, told the new landowners to be mindful of their rights and obligations under the law by religiously paying taxes and land amortization.
“Please practice good stewardship over this blessing that God has given to each one of you. You must refrain from engaging in prohibited acts that may disqualify you as an ARB, such as the selling and leasing of lands,” Tubesa added.
On Tuesday, nine ARBs in Hinigaran were installed on 17.98 hectares of landholdings previously owned by the group of Margarita Nosce in Barangay Bato.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ma. Deza Sayo said the farmers should take good care of the land awarded to them as she warned them against violations, such as leasing and selling it.
Sayo also appealed to farmers to pay their taxes and land amortizations.
Meanwhile, Arnulfo Figueroa, OIC provincial agrarian reform program officer II, said in a statement that the distribution of land titles and installation of the ARBs on the awarded land is just the start for the CARP beneficiaries.
“The agency will continue to give support services for the farmers, but they must organize first as an association or cooperative,” he added.*PNA
