The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Negros Occidental recently distributed land titles covering 27 hectares of land to 103 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the town of Murcia.

The distributed landholdings were formerly owned by Aida Moreno, identified as lot numbers 697-U and 853-C, with areas of 15.2640 hectares and 11.9138 hectares, respectively, located in Barangay Pandanon.

The properties were acquired through the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) process under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Western Visayas Regional Director Shiela Enciso, in a statement, said that under the CARP’s mandate, public and private agricultural landholdings are acquired by the government to be distributed to tenants, farmers, farmworkers, and/or other tillers who are qualified to become ARBs, in the form of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs).

She added that this is anchored to the agency’s aim to provide lands to landless farmers and farmworkers, guarantee the farmers' land security, deliver social equity, and provide them with the necessary productive resources needed to ensure their economic viability and productivity.

“Such continuous field activities conducted by DAR personnel are evidence that despite the inconveniences brought by the pandemic, the service for the Filipino people lives on,” Enciso said.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Elma Togores said this is a very memorable day for the ARBs as they become new landowners.

“Take good care of these properties and make it productive. Let us not forget to thank the Lord for this blessing. Congratulations on your success!” Togores said.

Namahagi kamakailan ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sa lalawigan ng Negros Occidental ng mga titulo ng lupa, na sumasakop sa 27 ektarya, sa 103 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) sa bayan ng Murcia.

Ang ipinamahaging lupain ay dating pagmamay-ari ni Aida Moreno, na mayroong lot number 697-U at 853-C, na may sukat na 15.2640 ektarya at 11.9138 ektarya na matatagpuan sa Barangay Pandanon.

Ang lupain ay nakuha sa pamamagitan ng prosesong land acquisition and distribution (LAD) ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Sa isang mensahe, sinabi ni Western Visayas Regional Director Shiela Enciso, mandato ng CARP na ang pampubliko at pangpribadong lupain ay makukuha ng pamahalaan upang ipamahagi sa mga nagungupahan, magsasaka, magsasakang trabahador o mga nagtatanim na kwalipikadong maging ARB sa pamamagitan ng certificates of landownership award (CLOAs).

Idinagdag pa niya na ito ay naka-angkla sa layuning makapagbigay ng lupa sa mga magsasakang walang lupain, garantiyahin ang kanilang seguridad sa lupa, ihatid ang social equity at bigyan sila ng suporta upang maseguro ang kanilang pag-unlad at pagiging produktibo.

“Ang patuloy na mga aktibidad sa lalawigan na isinasagawa ng ating mga DAR personnel ay patunay na tayo ay nagbibigay serbisyo sa gitna ng hirap na dulot ng pandemya,” ani Enciso.

Sinabi naman ni Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Elma Togores na makasaysayan para sa mga ARB ang araw na ito kung saan sila ay naging mga bagong nagma-may ari ng mga lupain.

“Alagaan niyo ang mga lupaing ito at gawing produktibo. Huwag nating kalilimutang pasalamatan ang Panginoon para sa mga biyayang inyong tinanggap. Binabati namin kayo para sa tagumpay na ito!” ani Togores.