More agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Occidental received Certificates of Land Ownership Awards from the Department of Agrarian Reform.
The DAR said that 49 ARBs were installed in more than 33 hectare-land in a series of CLOA distribution and ARB installation ceremonies held in Cadiz City on May 4, its press release said.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program officer Myrna Omaliao explained to farmers their tax duties and responsibilities.
“The long wait is over as all of you are now the new landowners of this property. Strive to cultivate bountiful harvest to reach economic stability, and never engage in any illegal land transactions,” she told the ARBs.
The landholdings involved more than 17 hectares in Barangay Luna, and 16 hectares in Barangay Burgos, both in Cadiz City.
The properties were acquired through land acquisition and distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, the press release said.
The DAR Negros Occidental 1-North also distributed more than six hectares of land to 14 ARBs in a CLOA distribution ceremony in Escalante City recently.
MARPO Maritess Resano led the activity and told the beneficiaries, “This land is given to you by the government to improve your lives and your families. We sincerely understand your laborious farming responsibilities and this ceremony is about honoring you and your hard work.”
“The land acquisition and distribution are a painstaking process and we want you to value the land given to you. We ask you to never engage in any form of lease contract and make sure to fulfill your tax obligations and amortizations as proprietors of the land,” she added.
In Silay City, more than 19 hectares were distributed to 23 ARBs.
MARPO Noveva Espinosa led the ceremony and congratulated the new landowners.
Public and private agricultural landholdings are acquired by the government for distribution to tenants, farmers, farmworkers, and/or other tillers who are qualified to become ARBs, in the form of CLOAs covering one contiguous tract or several parcels of land cumulated up to a maximum of three hectares per ARB, the DAR said.
This is anchored on the agency’s aim to provide lands to landless farmers and farmworkers, guarantee their land security, deliver social equity, and provide them with necessary productive resources to ensure their economic viability and productivity, the press release added.*