TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-10 conducted an Environment Social Assessment (ESA) for the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, gathering partner agencies and project stakeholders.

ESA aims to evaluate risks and address the challenges encountered by DAR in implementing Project SPLIT, which is a foreign-assisted initiative by DAR, supported internationally through a loan from the World Bank and a counterpart from the Philippine government. The project aims to distribute collective Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLAs) and issue individual and collective titles to agricultural lands for beneficiary farmers nationwide, referred to as Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

Zoraida O. Macadindang, DAR-10 regional director, emphasized the importance of the gathering, as it is a mandatory requirement for Project SPLIT's implementation.

"We are mandated to conduct forums like this to resolve issues encountered by the agency during the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, especially in this SPLIT project," she said.

The project involves a total of 138,567 collective CLOAs covering 1,380,422 hectares of land and helping a million ARBs nationwide.

Luiz T. Arquiza, a regional Environmental and Social Safeguards specialist, emphasized that the partner agencies, ARBs, and other stakeholders had the opportunity to voice their opinions and contribute to the significance of the ESA.

"Kailangan gyud nato mu-undergo ug Environmental Social Assessment. Dinhi makita nato nga naay open process. Buot pasabot, tanan naay tingog. Naay tingog si ARB, naay tingog si DENR. Tanan paminawon kay kailangan nato ug feedbacks for the common good sa SPLIT project," said Arquiza.

(We need to undergo an Environmental Social Assessment. Here, we can observe an open process, which means that everyone has a voice. The ARBs have a voice, and DENR has a voice. We will listen to everyone's feedback for the common good of Project SPLIT)

Meanwhile, Marivith Cawi, chairperson of Tangcal's Women Marketing Cooperative and an ARB, expressed her gratitude for being given the opportunity to attend the program.

"Dako ni nga tabang sa among grupo para mahibal-an pud namo unsa gyud ning about SPLIT na programa sa DAR. Mapasalamaton mi nga isa mi nga natawag didto nga mo attend diri nga program karon," said Cawi.

(This is a significant help for our group to understand the essence of the SPLIT project by DAR. We are grateful for being invited to attend this program.) (AAA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)