TACLOBAN CITY-More than 40 years of waiting is now over for the 457 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP) in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte as they received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Friday(August 17).
DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones, as he promised, issued the 429 Certificates of Landownership Award (CLOAs) to the 457 ARBs, effectively transferring to them the ownership of the 638.30 hectares of land in provinces of Leyte-Biliran and Southern Leyte.
“We will intensify the CLOA distribution and the provision of support services to the ARBs in the country to support the thrust of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to emancipate farmers, especially those in the far-flung villages living below the poverty level,” Castriciones said.
He emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte has also mandated the DAR to boost the provision of support services to the ARBs to develop the lands awarded to them.
Castriciones urged the farmer-beneficiaries not to sell or lease the newly acquired lands, but instead utilize these to generate income.
He said the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law or Republic Act No. 6657, prohibits the sale or lease of lands covered by the CLOA for at least 10 years.
DAR-Tacloban Legal Division Chief Atty. Daniel E. Pen reminded the farmers of their rights, duties, and responsibilities.
He warned the farmers that there are violations that will result to disqualifications or cancellations of their land titles issued to them if they failed to do their responsibilities as landowners.
Pen encouraged the farmers to take good care of the lands awarded to them and to refrain from doing what is prohibited under the law, like leasing and selling the land.
San Isidro Leyte ARB Rosalina M. Fajardo, as well as the other CLOA recipients,expressed happiness and their gratitude to President Duterte and to the DAR for the chance of personally claiming their CLOAs.
The distribution of CLOAs was also attended by DAR- 8 Regional Director Shiela B. Enciso, Registry of Deeds (ROD) Atty. Emeterio Villanoza, Land Bank-AOC Manger Fiel Pedrosa, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Regional Director Morakie P. Domanday, DAR Central Office Legal Service/PAMRS Director Resty C. Osias, ARDA Ma. Fe D. Malinao, ARD Ismael P. Aya-ay and officials from the Leyte-Biliran and Southern Leyte Provincial and Municipal offices. (PR)
