By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed the final batch of land titles in the municipality of Jala-Jala, Rizal province to farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
(DAR / MANILA BULLETIN)
DAR distributed emancipation patents (EPs) to 60 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) in Jalajala, Rizal.
EPs are titles of ownership provided to beneficiaries of the Land Reform Law of 1972 while certificates of land ownership and acquisition (CLOAs) are those given to beneficiaries under the Republic Act 6657 or the CARP Law of 1988.
The distributed landholdings cover a total area of 17.8 hectares and are located in Barangays Sipsipin and Poblacion in Jalajala.
After the awarding of EPs, the farmers were familiarized on their rights, roles, and responsibilities as ARBs.
The new landowners expressed their gratitude as DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Saturnino Bello handed them their land titles.
“You finally own the lands you’ve been waiting for through the years of toiling and taking care of it. Nobody deserves it better than you and you should make it more productive now,” Bello said.
Sixty-seven-year-old farmer Bayani Francisco said he has been waiting for this title for more than 20 years.
“At last, I finally own the land I’m tilling. I am already old but I can still farm with the help of my children. I am glad that I can still enjoy farming my own land before I pass it on to my children,” Francisco said.
Bello said the distribution will be the last in the municipality because almost all the landholdings in the municipality of Jalajala have already been covered by CARP and distributed to ARBs.
To make their lands more productive, Bello ensured the farmers of support services from the DAR and projects in partnership with other line agencies and local government units.