By Helen Castaño | 02:44 PM February 21, 2023
At least 501 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Bohol finally received their land titles as officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distribute certificates of landownership award (CLOA) and electronic titles on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
The event which was held at Bohol Cultural Center was attended by Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and DAR-7 regional director Leomides Villareal.
The distribution benefited landless farmers from 19 towns, covering 544.0470 hectares of agricultural land.
There were 402 beneficiaries given 483 electronic land titles (e-titles) that covers a land area of 471.1537 hectares, while w 99 received their CLOA 72.8933 hectares.
The Cagawasan CARP Farmer Beneficiary of Barangay Cagawasan in Dagohoy town and Bulilis Agrarian Reform Communities Cooperative (formerly Bulilis Multi-Purpose Cooperative) in Barangay Bulilis in Ubay town received farm machinery and equipment.
Gov. Aris Aumentado said the distribution of CLOA/e-title and turnover of farm machineries are once again solid proof that our fellow Boholanos are still reaping the benefits of agrarian reform.
“Since the program started many years ago, it has contributed to improving the lives of its beneficiaries and shaping better communities across the country,” Aumentado said in his message.
He said in Bohol, the agrarian reform has brought progress.
“Now that the Provincial Government is prioritizing agriculture to achieve food self-sufficiency and overall progress, programs like this have become more important than ever,” said Aumentado.
Estrella asked recipients not to sell their land.
He said the support to the farmers does not end in land distribution, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, has directed the department to uplift the lives of the farmers by providing them with various support services to help them improve their lives.
“Uulan pa ng maraming tulong sa mga magsasaka,” he said.
Sirena Bicada, 74, a resident of Guindulman town, one of the land title recipients, said that she has been waiting for many years.
“Nalipay ko pag-ayo kay nadawat na gyud namo ang titulo. Naa nami matawag nga among kaugalingon. Daghan kaayo sa salamat sa DAR,” she said.