QUEZON CITY -- One hundred sixten  (116) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the province of Negros Occidental received their land titles as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Murcia Municipal Office, in a series of activities, recently distributed Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).    

The said office distributed the CLOAs involving the private landholdings formerly owned by Marie Josephine Marquez and Shantung Commercial identified as CLOA numbers 12952 and 10502, covered by lot Nos. 257-B-1 to B-4-1 and 157-G to N, with areas of 24.828 hectares and 6.2904 hectares, respectively, both located in, Barangay 10, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

The department also awarded the titles to the farmers entailing the properties formerly managed by Norah Lopez, Marie Josephine Marquez, and Tagabenit Farm Ventures, Inc., identified as title nos. T-84347, T-13467, and T-252512, covered by lot nos. 245-B, 260-B to 5-1, at, 282-D-5, with areas of 11.2376 hectares, 46.3406 hectares and, 3.0753 hectares, respectively, located at Brgy. 14 (Norah Lopez property) and Brgy. 10 (Marie Josephine Marquez and Tagabenit Farm Ventures, Inc. properties).

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Ma. Jade Sollesta, who led the ceremony, reminded the ARBs to cultivate and make the awarded lands productive as she believes that it is an instrument to improve their lives.

“You must also remember your responsibilities to pay the land tax and amortizations on time,” she added. (DAR)