A total of 85 farmers from Negros Occidental will soon receive land from the government.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said it has distributed certificates of land ownership awards (CLOA) to the landless farmers covering a total of 46.44 hectares of agricultural lands.
By average, each of the 85 farmers will receive slightly over 500 square meters of farmland.
Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee chairperson Ma. Luvisminda Llarves, who participated in the CLOA distribution ceremony with other barangay officials was elated and expressed her gratefulness to the agency.
“We are very thankful for these lands because it would help improve the farmers’ economic lives,” she said in a statement.
Atty. Shiela Enciso, DAR Western Visayas Regional Director, said the activity is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to improve the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB).
A total of 33 ARBs from Victorias City received the 27.66 hectare property formerly owned by Silvino Eriberto Martin Jesena, et al., located at Hacienda. Mantaunon, Barangay VIII, while an 18.78 hectare-property formerly owned by Siacor Agricultural Corp., located at Barangay Magticol in the town of Toboso, was distributed to 52 ARBs.
The ARBs, as awardees of the land transfer program under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), need to pay their land taxes and make the lands productive.
“The DAR will continue to help you enrich the lands you received. We will provide you with the necessary support to ensure your farm’s productivity and receive more income from your farms,” she said.