297 Nueva Ecija farmers receive land titles and livelihood assistance from DAR

Nueva Ecija – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has conducted a simultaneous distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) and awarding of seed capital and agricultural inputs assistance to 297 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Nueva Ecija, September 24, 2020.

DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said the CLOAs comprises a total of 364 land titles covering 192.62 hectares of agricultural lands located in the municipalities of Cuyapo and Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Castriciones also distributed certificate of award of checks to different ARB organizations (ARBOs) amounting a total of Php 20M-worth as seed capital assistance for rice retailing project, agri-farm input project, and technical skills development that will benefit 30 ARBOs of the province.

He disclosed that the seed capital assistance and agri-input program are being implemented under the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARBs Project (CLAAP) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The program aims to boost farmers’ household income by helping them develop their agricultural enterprises through livelihood and micro-enterprise projects like vegetable and fruit farming, food processing, and livestock raising, among others.

Castriciones said the farmers play a vital role in the development of society, “That is the reason why I am exerting a lot of effort to really go around the country despite the risk of the Covid-19 pandemic, because I believe that farmers are considered as one of the heroes of our country.”

Castriciones emphasized that the DAR will intensify the CLOA distribution and the provision of support services to the ARBs in the country to support the thrust of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to emancipate farmers from the bondage of soil.

“Hangad namin na sa tulong ng lupang ito, at ng mga social at support services na ipagkakaloob ng DAR at ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, ang inyong pamumuhay ay aangat,” Castriciones added.

During the event, Castriciones also conducted the “Serbisyong DAR-to-DOOR” CLOA distribution where he personally handed over the land titles to the ARB, who lives along the way near the venue of the event to ensure that the farmers would personally receive their CLOAs themselves.

Included among those who were personally given land titles were spouses Antonio and Anicia Encomienda and Dolores F. Butardo from Barangay Malineng, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija and Rene Aguino, Danilo Mendiola and Chanda M. Sacatrapos from Barangay Sibul, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Other DAR officials who graced the two events were DAR Undersecretaries for Special Concerns Office Atty. Carim L. Panumpang, Central Luzon Regional Director Atty. Maria Celestina M. Tam, Cuyapo Municipal Mayor Florida P. Esteban, Talavera Municipal Mayor Nerivi Santos-Martinez, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Engr. Romeo S. Cordero, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Jocelyn O. Ramones, Head Executive Assistant Atty. Juan Lorenzo Maria S. Castriciones and Public Assistance and Media Relations Service (PAMRS) Director Cleon Lester G. Chavez.