ILOILO CITY — The expected visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in Iloilo on Wednesday is good news for 2,314 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Western Visayas.
The President is expected to distribute 3,772 land titles consisting of Emancipation Patents (EP) and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) covering 2,694 hectares, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
EPs and CLOAs are proof of ownership granted to landless farmers who qualified under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Duterte will be assisted by DAR Secretary John Castriciones during the distribution.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s visit will also bring hope to patients who seek faster delivery of health services.
Duterte will be represented by Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go during the inauguration of the “Malasakit Center” at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Manduriao district.
Go, during his previous visit here, said the center will serve as a one-stop shop to fast-track the provision of health services to the public.
Duterte will also inaugurate Vista Mall Iloilo, the newest mall in Western Visayas located in a 500-hectare Vista Land Community in the town of Oton, Iloilo.
More or less 3,000 councilors from all over the country will meet with Duterte who is expected to grace the National Convention of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in this city on Wednesday.
Duterte is expected to speak before the councilors after the distribution of land titles for the 30th anniversary of CARP.
Iloilo is hosting this year’s convention with the theme “Education and Technology: The Power Key to Advanced Skills in Local Legislation and Transformation of Character and Efficiency in Public Service”.
The event includes the 2018 2nd Quarterly National Executive Officers, National Board Meeting and 5th Series of Continuing Local Legislative Education Program.
In a media interview Tuesday afternoon, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said the provincial government contributed PHP400,000 for the hosting of the event.
The PCL is an association of all elected, appointed and ex-officio members of local legislative councils in cities and municipalities.
It aims to give life, meaning and substance to the constitutional mandate on Local Autonomy and Decentralization of Powers.
It also aims to bring government closer to the people, strengthen rapport, camaraderie and brotherhood among the members of the League and formulate, implement and coordinate programs, projects and activities beneficial to the members and for the welfare of the people, among others. ( Perla Lena and Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
