By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will be extending support services to the indigenous people of Boracay Island, following the distribution of agricultural land from the government.
President Rodrigo Duterte handed over land titles last week, covering a total of 3.2064 hectares, to 44 members of the Ati group under a collective ownership.
“We will be providing the farmer-beneficiaries with planting tools and implements to maximize their efficiency when it comes to productivity,” DAR Secretary John Castriciones said.
He added that DAR would soon provide various trainings to help develop the land and uplift the economic lives of the Ati.
Community leader Delsa Justo, who received the certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) in behalf of the group, promised to take care of the land for their children and the future generations of Ati.
Aside from the Ati, Castriciones said the department is also eyeing to distribute lands to the Tumandok tribe who lives on some of the wetlands in the island.
“I have already made the necessary coordination with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu so that they would be able to develop and preserve the land,” Castrciones said.
Along with the distribution of CLOAs to the Ati, 439 farmers from the towns of Buruanga, Tanggalan, and Malay, Aklan, also received land titles, covering a total of 270.8288 hectares.