More than a hundred farmers will become land owners soon as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is set to carry out distribution ceremonies for land titles in Camarines Sur on Aug. 18 and 19.
A total of 137 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the municipalities of Bula, Baao, and Bato in Camarines Sur are expected to receive their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) during the distribution events.
The CLOAs will cover 162 hectares (ha) of agricultural lands.
Aside from the land titles, farm machineries will also be provided to 12 agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) as support assistance extended under the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program (ARBDSP).
DAR-Bicol Regional Director Rodrigo Realubit said the distribution of land titles will "uplift the farmers’ lives, because giving these landless farmers a land of their own would inspire them to work harder to make it productive.”
“They will not be alone in improving their newly-acquired properties because the DAR will provide them with the necessary support services. As a holistic approach in alleviating poverty in the countryside and ensuring the country’s food security, the department extends its services to post-land distribution,” Realubit added.
DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones will personally deliver the land titles and farm equipment, according to the regional director.
Last Aug. 13, Castriciones handed over CLOAs to 680 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Davao Region. This comprised a total of 740.9565 has of agricultural lands.