By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Forty-six agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Murcia, Negros Occidental received their land titles and were subsequently installed on a 79-hectare property in Barangay Caliban on Wednesday.
The distribution of the certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) and the installation rites were led by personnel of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Negros Occidental-North.
Antonia Figueroa, officer-in-charge of Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Office, said they recognized the cooperation of the former landowner in the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The awarded landholdings was previously owned by Ma. Cecilia Arguelles Gonzaga.
Figueroa oriented the beneficiaries on their rights and obligations, which include regularly paying their respective amortizations and land taxes.
The previous landowner asked the ARBs not to lease the awarded lands, but instead make it more productive.
“I have agreed to subject these lands to CARP believing that we are all mere stewards or caretakers of God creation,” she added.
For his part, Caliban village chief Antonio Luis Gonzaga expressed his support to the programs of the DAR.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to take good care of the land and to fulfill their obligations.
In response, Dionesia Banquillo, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude to the government and the former landowner for granting them the land titles.
