BACOLOD CITY — A total of 105 farmers-beneficiaries were installed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in two separate landholdings in Negros Occidental province on Tuesday.
In the north, the DAR Negros Occidental I distributed certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) and installed 49 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Cadiz City.
The recipients will share the 19.5403-hectare property in Hacienda Valencia in Barangay Burgos that was previously owned by Melissa Abelido.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Agnes Calantas, who led the distribution and installation rites, told the farmers to honor their obligations by paying the amortizations and taxes for the land awarded to them.
Cultivate the land and do not resort to leasing or selling, which is prohibited, she added.
In the south, DAR Negros Occidental II installed 56 farmers in Barangay Robles in La Castellana town.
The ARBs were awarded 17.39 hectares of lot that used to belong to Maria Yulo and Leticia Barandiaran.
Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, the agency covered the properties through the compulsory acquisition scheme.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Raul Borbon encouraged the ARBs to be productive and empowered beneficiaries as he reminded them to pay their obligations to the Land Bank of the Philippines and to the municipal government.
“We encourage you to form a farmer organization for the various support services from the DAR and other government agencies and not to engage in any form of illegal activities,” Borbon added. (Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
