QUEZON CITY -- The agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the town of Anilao in Iloilo have all the reasons to celebrate after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in this province awarded 133 farmers with land titles, covering 257.63 hectares of agricultural lands, and turned over Php 17.7-million worth of bridge project.

DAR Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso said the awarding of lands and infrastructure project are provided by the department to advance the economic conditions of the farmers in this province.

“Make these lands that you receive become more productive and take good care of the support services you received from the government,” Enciso said.

The 17.40 linear-meter Mostro-Balunos bridge, located in Barangay Mostro, is expected to be beneficial to the 4,108 population of Brgy. Mostro, Balunos and Manganese, of which 433 of them are ARBs.

The infrastructure project is provided under the Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-agraryo (TPKP) project,  a foreign-assisted bridge program between French Government, the Government of the Philippines and of the Local Government Unit of Anilao, Iloilo.  

Lexi Donguila, an ARB from Barangay Badiang, expressed her gratitude for the blessings they receive from the government.

“I would like to thank the DAR for helping us, the small farmers, in improving our lives,” she said.

The event was also attended by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., Anilao Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque, Anilao Vice Mayor Ma. Teresa Debuque, Assistant Regional Director Lucrecia  Taberna and other DAR employees, LGU personnel and ARBs from Barangays Mostro, Manganese, Badiang and Balunos. (DAR)