16 Masbate farmers receive land titles
MANDAON, Masbate – A total of 16 a
grarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) in a recent distribution ceremony spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) held at the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO) of Mandaon, Masbate.
The distributed land titles covered at least three landholdings comprising an area of 33.3475 hectares and are situated in barangays Buri and Tagpo, said OIC- Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Rudy A. Delgado.
The landholdings were acquired by the DAR through compulsory acquisition from landowners Aurelio Lucio, Patrocinio Alayon and Simeona Bonayog, Delgado added.
During the activity, OIC- Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I (PARPO I) Herald R. Tambal urged the newly empowered farmers to take good care of their awarded lands and use it to improve their livelihood and quality of life.
“I suggest you engage in vegetable farming because the demand is high and it is really profitable if done the right way. To become successful in this endeavor, you need to learn new farming technologies and enterprise strategies from our government’s rural development programs, which will be provided by the DAR,” Tambal said.
ARB Mars R. Pantia, on the other hand, vowed to cultivate his land and produce as many crops as he can to support his family. He also promised that he would never ever sell his land.
“For me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Starting today, I am not anyone’s farmer anymore. I am the farmer of my own land. I may not be as strong or as young as I was before, but with my family by my side, I know we can get through anything,” Pantia said.
After the distribution of titles, Land Tenure Services Division Chief Delia R. Amante conducted a lecture on the rights and responsibilities of ARBs. She reminded the beneficiaries to make their lands productive, pay the amortization to the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and as well as the required taxes. (Ross Aguilar Lustestica, DAR-Masbate)
#AgrarianReform #DAR4Farmers #Land4Farmers #ComfortableLifeForAll #PartnerForChange #CARP@30:DARe2Change
