QUEZON CITY -- Nida Bediores, an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) from Barangay Maligaya in Aborlan, Palawan, was all smiles and thankful when she was interviewed by the officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and World Bank (WB) delegates to assess the process of land parcelization under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project or SPLIT Project.

Project SPLIT is the subdivision of lands and the issuance of individual land titles to ARBs who were previously awarded with lands under the collective certificates of land ownership award.

“We received our lands in 1990 through collective ownership. We cultivate it but we could not claim the land as ours because we do not have clear boundaries of the land. But now, I am proud to say that I am the sole owner of the property,” she said.

Nida added that because of the project they were able to realize their dreams of having their names on the title and the possibility of giving it to the next generation of their families.

“Thank you to the DAR staff for their great work in implementing the project and also for their effort in coming from time to time in our community to subdivide our lands. I promise to continue making my land productive as it also helps provide for our daily subsistence,” she said.

Nida is one among the ARBs, who received individual land titles through the SPLIT project and was interviewed by the delegates, from the towns of Narra and Aborlan.

The SPLIT Project is funded by the World Bank, which aims to improve land tenure security and strengthen the property rights of the ARBs nationwide.

Maria Theresa Quinones, WB co-Task Team Leader, said that this project is not just an ordinary support to ARBs because tenurial security is a lifetime aid to them.

“During our interviews to the ARBs, I was touched with their responses because according to them the project gave them hope. After 20 years or more tilling the lands, they never thought that they would be issued with individual land titles,” she said.

Earlier, the delegates paid a courtesy visit to Provincial Palawan Governor Dennis Socrates to discuss the implementation of the SPLIT project in the province.

“I commend the DAR and WB for their partnership benefitting our farmers. I support their advocacy in generating individual land titles to our ARBs,” he said.

The DAR was represented by SPLIT Engr. Joey Sumatra, National Project Director and concurrent Field Operation Office Assistant Secretary; Rene Colocar, Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office Assistant Secretary; and Atty. Marvin Bernal, Mimaropa Director; while the World Bank delegates were headed by Kathrine Kelm, SPLIT Project Team Leader and Sarah Antos, co-Task Team Leader. (DAR)