CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) - - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded 714 land titles to 772 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and turned over farm implements worth P3.1 million to 24 ARB organizations in the province on Friday, June 23.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III led the awarding of 714 Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) covering a total land area of 1,201.8922 hectares to 772 ARBs across Kalinga. This milestone in conferring land ownership also ensures long-term security for the beneficiaries.

DAR also turned over farm implements benefiting 960 farmers.  The farm machineries and equipment consisted of three units combine harvester with trailer, three units tractor with rotovator and trailer, four units tractor with corn kit and trailer, 16 units grasscutter, six units hand tractors, 25 units mini-power tillers, one rotovator, one mini 4x4 truck, and one truck.

He appealed to them not to sell the lands awarded to them.

Estrella assured the government’s continuing support to ARBs sharing that the President is set to sign on July 7, 2023 the New Agrarian Emancipation Act which aims to condone all amortization fees, interests and penalties of loans of ARBs arising from the award of agriculture lands under the CARP.

Joseph Pacao, 77, is so happy that finally his son has now a CLOA for a land at Agbannawag, Tabuk City.

“Tinultulungak ti anak ko manipud pay administrasyon ni sigud a Presidente Duterte. Amin nga paaramid ti DAR, tinungpal mi. Salamat unay ta napatgan ti kiddaw mi nga mannalon a matagikuwa tay daga a sinakupan mi. Ituloy min nga mulaan ta adda pangalaan ti masida ken mailako nu subra. Idawat mi nga maimprove kuma pay tay kalsada nga sumrek ta pumintas ti dalan mi nga mangiruwar iti produkto mi. ( I have been helping my son for land titling since the administration of President. Duterte. We have been complying with the requirements of DAR. We are so grateful that the wish of farmers to own the land that they occupy is finally realized. We will continue to cultivate to have food for the table and for the excess, to sell. We appeal that the access road will also be improved so that it is easier for us to transport our products.)(JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)