CARP BENEFICIARY. Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones (right) does a fist bump with a farmer-beneficiary during the mass distribution of certificates of land ownership award in rites held at the municipal gym of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental on Thursday (Sept. 30, 2021). Some 7,268 agrarian reform beneficiaries received titles to 7,709 hectares of land in Negros Occidental during the activity. (Photo courtesy of DAR Negros Occidental II-South)
BACOLOD CITY – Some 7,268 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) received titles to 7,709 hectares of land in Negros Occidental during the mass distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) conducted by the Department of Agrarian (DAR) in Pontevedra town on Thursday.
In rites held at the municipal gymnasium, Secretary John Castriciones led the ceremonial awarding of land titles for farmer-beneficiaries in various cities and municipalities across the province.
“Our farmers are our heroes for 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 in his message.
The recipients included 3,926 ARBs, who were given titles to 4,119 hectares of landholdings, covered by the DAR Negros Occidental-I in the northern part of the province.
Some 3,342 farmer-beneficiaries under the DAR Negros Occidental-II from the south received CLOAs to 3,589 hectares of agricultural lands.
Castriciones said Negros Occidental has the highest target for land acquisition and distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, with a remaining balance of more than 124,000 hectares of agricultural lands still to be distributed.
For the ARBs who have already received their land titles, the DAR chief advised them to form a cooperative or organization to avail various support services.
Farmer-beneficiary Edmond Belodo of Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona thanked God for the blessing of a CLOA, which he had long prayed for.
“I also thank President (Rodrigo) Duterte for giving ample attention to the agrarian reform program and also to Secretary John Castriciones and Regional Director Sheila Enciso for always catering to the needs of the farmers,” he said.
Belodo, a father of two, shared that when he was still working for the landowner, his income was not enough to sustain the needs of his family.
“We dreamed of this for many years. I never stopped praying until my prayers were finally answered. Now, we can already feel how our lives would change because of DAR. We were given a land to call our own and for sure, we will earn more,” he said.
Joel Genciagan, an ARB from southern Negros, said he is thankful for the land he received from the DAR.
“We are hopeful now that we have finally received our original CLOA. Our only request is we be given support services so we can develop our land. I also ask my fellow CLOA holders to take care of the lands we receive and not to sell or lease it,” he added.
Host-mayor Mayor Jose Maria Alonso said that farmer-beneficiaries in Pontevedra town have also received various support services from the DAR.
Pontevedra has about 4,500 farmers who belong to 17 ARB organizations serving as active partners of the local government unit, he added.
Meanwhile, Castriciones led the installation of 51 ARBs of the four landholdings located in Barangay Abo-abo, Murcia town as part of his visit to Negros Occidental.
The farmer-beneficiaries were given the CLOA to 48.5 hectares of landholdings covered under the CARP. (PNA)
