TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Agrarian Reform awarded land titles to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and turned over farm implements worth P3.1 million to 24 ARB organizations in the province.
DAR Sec. Conrado Estrella III led the awarding of 714 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) covering 1,201.8922 hectares to 772 ARBs across Kalinga.
The conferment of land ownership also ensures long-term security for the beneficiaries.
DAR also turned over farm implements benefiting 960 farmers.
The farm machineries and equipment consisted of three units combine harvester with trailer, three units tractor with rotovator and trailer, four units tractor with corn kit and trailer, 16 units grasscutter, six units hand tractor, 25 units mini-power tiller, one rotovator, one mini 4×4 truck, and one truck.
Estrella, who was guest of honor and speaker during the Agrarian, Cooperatives, and Farmers Day in celebration of Tabuk’s 73rd Founding Anniversary and 22nd Matagoan Festival, said the distribution was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directive to increase the allocation of land titles to free farmers from land dependency.
“What Pres. Bongbong Marcos wants to give to you is something permanent which you can give as inheritance to your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He wanted those land titles be provided to the ARBs the soonest and free from any indebtedness,” he said.
He emphasized to the beneficiaries the importance of enhancing and protecting the lands, which are provided by the government to improve their economic well-being.
He appealed to them not to sell the lands awarded to them.
Estrella assured the government’s support to ARBs sharing that the President is set to sign on July 7, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which aims to condone all amortization fees, interests, and penalties of loans of ARBs arising from the award of agriculture lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Joseph Pacao, 77, is happy that finally his son now shas a CLOA for a land at Agbannawag, Tabuk City.
“I have been helping my son for land titling since the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. We have been complying with the requirements of DAR. We are so grateful that the wish of farmers to own the land that they occupy is finally realized. We will continue to cultivate to have food for the table and for the excess, to sell. We appeal that the access road will also be improved so that it is easier for us to transport our products,” he said. – Peter Balocnit
