ROSALES, Pangasinan– The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has awarded a total of 661 certificates of land ownership (CLOAs), emancipation patent titles, and computerized land titles and PHP8.6 million worth of farm machinery and inputs to some 563 agrarian reform farmer-beneficiaries in Pangasinan.
In a statement issued Thursday, DAR Ilocos regional office said prior to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the tenant-farmer who fully complied with the requirements for the grant of the title under Presidential Decree No. 27 is issued an emancipation patent which represents absolute ownership over the land transferred to the tiller or farmer.
Of the total number, 73 have their own computerized land title through the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project.
Project SPLIT seeks to subdivide collective certificate of land ownership award (CCLOA) into individual land titles so every farmer-beneficiary may exercise full ownership and possession and will have complete control in cultivating the area the way he or she sees fit, according to DAR.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, during the distribution held here Wednesday, said a one-year moratorium on land amortization and the corresponding 6-percent annual interest is also being implemented to benefit the farmer-beneficiaries.
“This will do while waiting for the New Emancipation Act passed into law that would condone unpaid amortization, interest payments, surcharges, and penalties of existing loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs),” he said.
Estrella has also vowed continuous support services to the ARBs.
Diosdado Balicha, 74, one of the beneficiaries was grateful as they finally got their own land title.
Diosdado and his brother Rodrigo, 78, were among those who have finally completed the requirements and the process with the help of DAR to finally have their own land titles.
Meanwhile, some 640 ARBs have received PHP8.7 million worth of farm machinery and inputs.
The beneficiaries were from Alcala, Bolinao, Mapandan, Rosales, Manaoag, Umingan, Sta. Barbara, Bani, Bautista, Bayambang towns and Alaminos City.
Among the equipment distributed were cultivators, harvesters, reapers, engine pumps, hand tractors and fertilizers for farm inputs.
DAR has also turned over two units of motorcycles with carriers and two pick-up trucks. (PNA)