DAGUPAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to 129 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from Hacienda village in Bugallon, Pangasinan on Friday.
 
Zarena Ann Amado, information officer of DAR-Pangasinan, said this is almost nine years after submitting to DAR a resolution to apply as potential beneficiaries of a 40-hectare landholding in Barangay Hacienda.
 
“The landholding, owned by Eduardo Dee and sold to spouses Dr. and Dra. Macario Feliciano, was acquired by DAR through compulsory acquisition and went through several legal processes before finally getting registered with the Registry of Deeds this year,” Amado said.
 
Aside from the awarding of CLOA, DAR also conducted an education seminar for these 129 new ARBs who are members of the Bugallon Federation of Free Farmers Marketing Cooperative.
 
Amado said, “These ARBs learned their rights and responsibilities as title holders, as well as the support services that they are entitled to as land awardees.”
 
“The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation also discussed the benefits of being insured during the incoming rainy season,” she added.
 
DAR in Ilocos Assistant Regional Director Maria Ana Francisco reminded the new ARBs to cherish their CLOAs.
 
She also emphasized the importance of joining Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries' Organizations (ARBOs) so that they can fully enjoy DAR's services and improve as a community.
 
"Cherish this title. Ngayon, meron na kayong pinanghahawakan. Finally, matatawag niyo na ang sarili niyo na land awardees,” Francisco said. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)