CAMARINES NORTE – After years of toiling lands that they did not own, a total of 123 farmers from Camarines Norte are now the new owners of these precious lands after they received a total of 222.94 hectares from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) covered some land areas in the municipalities of Basud, Capalonga, Daet, Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sta. Elena and Vinzons.
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Office Karlo S. Bello said the farmers deserve to own the land they till.
“President Rodrigo Duterte mandated the DAR to give the farmers what is due to them without any discrimination. The administration does not favor any farmers despite their political beliefs, as long as they are qualified and meet the requirements needed to get the land titles, we are giving it to them,” Bello said.
Bello also said that the President wants individual titling of lands for the beneficiaries, not the collective CLOAs.
The Undersecretary also recognized the collective effort of the DAR personnel in Bicol region in helping the farmers achieved their dreams.
“Your works are appreciated. Like the DAR employees in other regions, you show the people what public-servants should do to help the poor people,” Bello added.
On the recipients’ part, Labo town farmer-beneficiary Norma Ramirez vowed to transform the newly distributed lands into productive farming areas.
“We will take care of the lands and we will not sell it because these properties will be passed on to our children and the next generations,” she said.
Nestor Gonzales, another ARB from the town of Basud, reminded his fellow ARBs that having lands is not just enough to improve their lives because diligence and perseverance are very much needed to make their lands productive.
Data provided by DAR Bicol Regional Director Engr. Rodolfo S. Pangilinan revealed that 42 ARBs from Labo town received their CLOAs covering a total of 96.45 hectares during the distribution ceremony; 18 ARBs with 28.9 hectares from Jose Panganiban; 12 ARBs with 29.32 hectares from San Lorenzo Ruiz; 12 ARBs with 15.54 hectares from Capalonga; nine (9) ARBs with 19.18 hectares from Basud; nine (9) ARBs with 5.33 hectares from Daet; six (6) ARBs with 10.32 hectares from Mercedes; five (5) ARBs with 3.78 hectares from Sta. Elena; four (4) ARBs with 7.11 hectares from San Vicente; three (3) ARBs with 5.15 hectares from Paracale; and three (3) ARBs with 1.86 hectares from Vinzons town.
“The DAR’s responsibility to you (the farmers) doesn’t end here. There are more to come as we are mandated to provide you the necessary assistance and support services to develop your agricultural lands and be more productive to improve your economic lives,” Pangilinan said.
Photo 2: DAR Undersecretary Karlo S. Bella (5th from left) leads the distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) ceremony held in Daet, Camarines Norte. The DAR distributes 222.9 hectares of agricultural lands to 123 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from 11 municipalities of Camarines Norte. The municipalities include Basud, Capalongan, Daet, Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sta. Elena and Vinzons. Bicol Regional Director Rodolfo Pangilinan (4th from left), Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Roseller Olayres (2nd from right) and other DAR officials graces the event.
