More than 400 farmers in Mauban, Quezon are now land owners after finally receiving their land titles from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
A total of 423 certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) were recently distributed to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) covering 408 hectares of agricultural lands located in the 15 barangays of Mauban.
“Ngayon kayo na po ang nagmamay-ari ng inyong sariling lupa at kailanman hindi pwedeng agawin sa inyo ito (Now you are the owners of your own land and it can never be taken away from you),” DAR Sec. Brother John Castriciones said during the distribution of titles.
Seed capital assistance amounting to P1.3 million was also given to 90 farmers who were members of three agrarian reform beneficiary organizations in the same municipality.
Castriciones said the seed capital assistance is intended for rice retailing project, agri-farm input project, and technical skills development that will benefit the members of the three farmer organizations.
“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,” DAR Usec. for Support Services Emily Padilla said.
The seed capital assistance is implemented under the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
During the distribution, a “Kumusta ARBOs” dialogue was also initiated to find out what else the farmers needed from the government.
“We are doing this ‘kumustahan’ to know how our farmers are faring during this pandemic. We want to know how we can help them rise above these difficulties,” Castriciones said.