Around 7,700 hectares of farmlands were distributed to 7,268 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Occidental, in a ceremony led by Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary, Bro. John Castriciones, in Pontevedra town recently.
The recipients include 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, the DAR said in a press statement Oct. 2.
Some 3,342 farmer-beneficiaries under the DAR Negros Occidental-II from the south received CLOAs to 3,589 hectares of agricultural lands.
Castriciones urged the ARBs to cherish the day they received their CLOAs that signify their freedom from the bondage of tenancy.
Regional director Sheila Enciso said that DAR Western Visayas has a remaining balance of over 124,000 hectares of agricultural lands which are yet to be distributed to ARBs.
“We are happy to have served you and become instrumental in the uplifting of the quality of your lives as ARBs. For this, we worked hard and strenuously put our energy into giving you the title of your land. One thing we just asked from you – that you be a good steward of the land awarded to you so that our labor in striving to enrich your lives will not be in vain,” Enciso said.
Castriciones also led the installation of 51 ARBs to the four landholdings in Barangay Abo-abo, Murcia town.
The ARBs will share the 48.5 hectares of the landholdings covered by DAR through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Castriciones also joined Mayor Evelio Leonardia in visiting the 1.4-hectare “Buhay sa Gulay” project site in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City.
The project aims to promote the importance of high-value farming among ARBs and encourage them to have an alternative source of income by growing and selling fresh vegetables.
The project is in collaboration with the City Department of Agriculture and the Benez Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Association.
Leonardia, in a press release yesterday from the city, said agriculture is important, and more so during this pandemic.
He thanked the DAR chief for his support to the program and committed that the city government will help in making it flourish.
DAR Undersecretary Ranibai Dilangalen, assistant secretary Ubaldo Sadiarin Jr., Enciso, director Romeo Reyes, Atty. Jayzon Callado, PARO Reuben Theodore Sindac, Councilor Carl Lopez, City Agriculturist Goldwyn Nifras, and executive assistant George Zulueta also visited the vegetable garden. | NND
