BACOLOD CITY—In a significant step toward agrarian reform, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed titles and installed 276 farmers on awarded lands across three sites in southern Negros Occidental, from September to early October. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to promoting agrarian stability and economic growth among rural communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, the lands awarded are located in Bago City and the municipalities of Ilog and Isabela, with agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) receiving their certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs). On October 4, in Barangay 2, Ilog, 16 farmer beneficiaries were given CLOAs for 15.30 hectares of the Benjamin de Luzuriaga landholdings, facilitated by the DAR Municipal Office-Ilog. “This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to promote agrarian reform and empower farmers by providing them with secure land tenure,” stated the DARMO-Ilog.
Simultaneously, in Bago City, the DARMO-Bago City office distributed titles and installed 50 ARBs on the 19.86 hectares of land previously owned by Lucy Araneta Solinap in Barangay Busay. The land is expected to bolster agricultural development and economic stability for the beneficiaries. Additionally, in Isabela, on September 23, 246 CLOAs were distributed and 210 ARBs were installed on 37.89 hectares of land in Hacienda Conchita, formerly owned by Enrique Montilla Jr. The DARMO-Isabela highlighted, “This successful distribution and installation mark a significant step towards empowering ARBs and ensuring their rightful access to land.”
These activities are part of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, which involves the acquisition and distribution of both public and private agricultural landholdings by the government to be given to tenants, farmers, farmworkers, and other qualified tillers.