The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Misamis Oriental recently distributed certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs), covering 17 hectares of agricultural lands formerly owned by Lugod landholdings, in the town of Gingoog.
The six agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from Barangay 26, Poblacion in this town received their CLOAs from Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Maybelle Alcala, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Audie Saclote, and Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Noel Supremo.
In a simple ceremony, Alcala said the DAR is mandated to distribute lands to landless farmers and provide support services to ensure that the farmers would improve their economic lives.
“Make these lands richer and do not sell these properties because it is against the law, the government can reclaim it and give it to more qualified individuals,” Alcala said.
The land was awarded through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the government’s social justice program redistributing private and public agricultural lands to advance the economic conditions of small farmers.
Liezel Gutang, one of the ARBs, thanked the DAR for the properties that they received.
“I believe that what we receive will be a big help in improving our lives. We promise that we will take care of it,” she said. (DAR) -rir
