BACOLOD City – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed land titles and installed 67 farmers from two areas in southern Negros Occidental.
DAR Negros Occidental II-South reported that 57 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangay Abuanan, Bago City were installed on a 32.39-hectare property formerly owned by Juan Jalandoni on May 12. The land was acquired through the compulsory acquisition scheme under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms.
During the ceremony, beneficiaries were divided into five batches to avoid a large gathering as part of the precautionary measures against coronavirus disease 2019.
Municipal agrarian reform program officer Domingo Gatmaitan urged the farmer-beneficiaries to avail the support services offered by the DAR and other government agencies.
“Don’t engage in activities prohibited by the agency like selling and leasing of land. Fulfill your obligations and responsibilities such as paying real property tax to the local government and the annual amortization to the Land Bank of the Philippines,” he added.
For his part, senior agrarian reform program technologist Arren Mondejar said that for the ARBs to develop the land given to them, DAR would hold workshops and training sessions.
In Barangay Robles, La Castellana town, on the other hand, 10 farmer-beneficiaries received their certificates of land ownership award on May 5.
The land titles cover the 5.5658-hectare property previously owned by Engracia Dominguez and others.
Senior agrarian reform program technologist Dindo Gelasque said they observed precautionary measures through a house-to-house distribution of the land titles. He encouraged the ARBs to make their land productive and also reminded them to exercise diligence in the use, cultivation, and maintenance of the land, aside from paying their real property tax and amortization.(With a report from PNA/PN)
