QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Negros Occidental recently distributed land titles covering 27 hectares of land to 103 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the town of Murcia.

The distributed landholdings were formerly owned by Aida Moreno, identified as lot numbers 697-U and 853-C, with areas of 15.2640 hectares and 11.9138 hectares, respectively, located in Barangay Pandanon.

The properties were acquired through the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) process under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Western Visayas Regional Director Shiela Enciso, in a statement, said that under the CARP’s mandate, public and private agricultural landholdings are acquired by the government to be distributed to tenants, farmers, farmworkers, and/or other tillers who are qualified to become ARBs, in the form of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs). 

She added that this is anchored to the agency’s aim to provide lands to landless farmers and farmworkers, guarantee the farmers' land security, deliver social equity, and provide them with the necessary productive resources needed to ensure their economic viability and productivity.

“Such continuous field activities conducted by DAR personnel are evidence that despite the inconveniences brought by the pandemic, the service for the Filipino people lives on,” Enciso said.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Elma Togores said this is a very memorable day for the ARBs as they become new landowners.   

“Take good care of these properties and make it productive. Let us not forget to thank the Lord for this blessing. Congratulations on your success!” Togores said. (DAR)