DAR to Door in Dinagat: agrarian beneficiaries get land titles

Ten (10) farmers from Cagdianao in Dinagat Islands finally received in a special way their Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

In an initiative dubbed as “DAR to Door” patterned from DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones, personnel from DAR in Dinagat Islands delivered the CLOAs right at the doorsteps of the agrarian beneficiaries’ homes.

A total of 10.8129 hectares of agricultural lands were distributed during the recently conducted activity.

“It was a joy to watch the grateful and happy faces of our agrarian beneficiaries when they received their land titles” said Dante C. Manlimos, Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer of DAR-PDI.

Felipe Requina, the OIC-Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer of the entire Dinagat Islands added that the “DAR to Door” program is DAR’s way of extending the office services to our ARBs and their families amidst the global emergency health crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a memorable day for me because for the longest time I have been waiting for the CLOA of my land and finally I have now the title that I have been waiting” said an overjoyed Alejandro L. Garrido of Brgy. Cabungaan after receiving his land title.

Atornic L. Ecle of Brgy. Maatas in Cagdianao could not contain his excitement when he was handed with the CLOA. He also thanked DAR for making it happen that he is now the owner of the land he has been tilling for years.

During the distribution, the ARB recipients were oriented on their roles, rights and responsibilities as agrarian beneficiaries. After which, the ARBS expressed their commitments to make their awarded lands productive and become a member of a DAR-assisted agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization nearest to their area.

Meanwhile, Maria Elizabeth L. De Guzman, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer of DAR Surigao del Norte underscored that the CLOA distribution is a manifestation that the DAR stayed true to its mandate to implement equitable distribution and ownership of land and at the same time support the ARBs to make their land productive through capacity and capability building.

“Even in these challenging times, through this “DAR to Door” initiative we are able to provide our agrarian reform beneficiaries the opportunity to enhance their quality of life through tenurial security and agricultural productivity” said PARPO De Guzman.

-Daryll Tumbaga, PIO-Surigao del Norte