By Saul Pa-a/PNA
JALAJALA, Rizal — Some 60 farmers finally got their emancipation patents from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) during turnover ceremonies on Sunday held at the town hall.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Saturnino Bello handed the emancipation patents (EPs) to the farmer-beneficiaries who expressed gratitude to government, as they celebrated their new status as landowners.
“You finally own the lands you’ve been waiting for through the years of toiling and taking care of it. Nobody deserves it better than you and you should make it more productive now,” Bello urged.
These Emancipation Patents (EPs) are titles of ownership provided to beneficiaries of the Land Reform Law of 1972 while Certificates of Land Ownership and Acquisition (CLOAs) are those given to beneficiaries under the 1988 Agrarian Reform Program or RA 6657.
A 67-year-old beneficiary Bayani Francisco, who has been farming all his life, was especially happy after receiving the title, as he has been waiting for this title for more than 20 years now.
“At last, I finally own the land I’m tilling. I am already old but I can still farm with the help of my children. I am glad that I can still enjoy farming my own land before I pass it on to my children,” Francisco said in Filipino.
The DAR provincial program officer disclosed that Sunday’s event capped the land title distribution in this town, since almost all landholdings in the municipality of Jalajala have already been covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and distributed to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
Bello also assured farmers that efforts to make their lands more productive will continue through DAR support services and projects in partnership with other line agencies and local government units.
The distributed landholdings cover a total area of 17.8 hectares are located in Barangays Sipsipin and Poblacion, Jalajala.
Following the distribution of the emancipation patents, DAR officials also familiarized the farmers about their rights, roles and responsibilities as ARBs.
