BACOLOD CITY — A total of 134 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) were installed and received certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) in separate rites led by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-South this week.
In Barangay Dulao, Bago City, 18 ARBs were installed Thursday on 18.6 hectares of landholdings formerly owned by Magdaleno Jardeleza.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Aurea Lingamen, who led the installation rites, said the property was acquired through Compulsory Acquisition under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Lingamen urged the farmer-beneficiaries to promptly pay their taxes and land amortization to the local government and the Land Bank of the Philippines, respectively.
“They should not engage in illegal sale, transfer, lease or any other form of conveyance of the right to use or any usufructuary right over the land acquired under the law,” she added.
On Wednesday, the DAR in Negros Occidental-South distributed certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to 116 ARBs in La Castellana town.
The farmer-beneficiaries received about 47 hectares of landholdings situated in Barangay Lalagsan formerly owned by Anita Arregui Agro Business Ventures Inc.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Bethereza Zamora urged the ARBs not to stay as program-recipients only, but strive to become more developed and empowered beneficiaries.
They should also cultivate their land to make it productive, she said.
“The DAR, through its Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Sustainability Program Division encourages ARBs to form into organizations to avail more support services,” Zamora said.
She also reminded farmer-beneficiaries not to engage in “ariendo” (lease) system.
Under Section 49 of DAR Administrative Order No. 7 Series of 2011, the sale, transfer, or lease of the awarded land is a ground for disqualification. (/PNA)
