STA. CRUZ, Laguna – After 50 years of being tenant, agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) Paciano Mitra, 78 of Barangay Limao, Calauan, Laguna finally received his transfer certificates of title (TCTs) in a ceremony held on Wednesday, February 28 at the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Mitra was accompanied by his wife, Nenita, 76 during the distribution ceremony as they thanked DAR under the leadership of Secretary John R. Castriciones and the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the release of their land titles.
“I’ve been farming for 50 years yet I do not own the land,” Mitra, speaking in local dialect, said in an interview after the ceremony.
The distribution was led by Usec. Karlo S. Bello of Field Operations Office (FOO) of DAR together with Director Leomides R. Villareal of the Public Assistance and Media Relations Service (PAMRS), DAR Region IV-A Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr., DAR Region IV-A Assistant Director Priscilla E. Ong, and Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Elizabeth Z. Villapando.
A total of 79 ARBs received their respective land titles during the ceremony that covered around 101.5825 hectares of agricultural lands in the city of Calamba and towns of Calauan, Liliw, Lumban, Magdalena, Pakil, Paete, and Sta. Maria.
“We give importance to every land title distribution activity that we undertake. This is very important to the lives of our farmers,” Bello emphasized in his message to the ARBs.
He also lauded the efforts of DAR officials and employees in the province of Laguna.
Among those who received their land titles were Arsenia B. Ojinal, 78 and her daughter, Rosa Ojinal Yongco, 49 years of age and a mother of five.
Both Arsenia and Rosa, residents of Barangay Imok, Calauan, Laguna, are widows.
“It’s sad that my husband died last year. He was not able to witness this event,” Arsenia, in her local dialect lamented.
Rosa, a widow for eight years, said her husband must be happy now that the land is finally given to his family.
She vowed to develop the land for the future of her children.
Another ARB, Leondy E. Jarque, 42 with three children, a resident of Barangay Curalan, Sta. Maria, Laguna jumped upon reaching the stage to receive his certificate of land ownership award (CLOA).
Jarque also expressed gratitude to DAR and President Duterte for the fast processing and release of his land title.
In his message, Director Villareal reminded the ARBs of their responsibilities now that they already own the land that they till.
He added that it is the wish of President Duterte to “give what is due to the farmers, and that is the ownership of the lands that they till.” (DAR-PR/PNA)
