56 former Buenavista, Quezon tenants receive CLOA from DAR

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently distributed the certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to 56 former tenants of Don Domingo Reyes in Buenavista, Quezon.

The tenants have been asserting their claim as agrarian reform beneficiaries to the 174-hectare property of the Reyes family for 30 years.

Saturnino Alcantara, one of the beneficiaries and a barangay chairperson in the area, was among the recipients of the certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) that were distributed by the DAR.

As a new landowner, Alcantara said they felt more secure. He said they were also able to enjoy the fruits of their labor with increased income and provide education to their children.

Way back in 1994, Don Domingo Reyes Sr., former landowner of the 174-hectare agricultural land located in Barangay Catulin, Buenavista, Quezon, ordered a halt on all farm activities including planting and harvesting crops, raising farm animals, and copra processing.

The tenant farmers headed by Alcantara organized the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Catulin (Samaca) and requested DAR to cover the Reyes property under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Don Domingo initially rejected the coverage and erected fences covering his whole property. His personnel also uprooted the crops planted by the tenants forcing the farmers to flee from the landholding.

Samaca, with the assistance of the PEACE Foundation, a nongovernment organization (NGO), attended a paralegal training on agrarian reform laws under the Bondoc Development Program (BDP) to equip them with the necessary knowledge and formulate a plan to put an end to the incessant chaos.

To provide the support needed by the beneficiaries, an Interagency Task Force was formed together with the Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other NGOS.

Soon, the former landowners gave in until the tenant farmers were finally installed, provided with individual CLOAS, and are now peacefully cultivating the land.

The new landowners are now able to build houses, buy appliances and some of their children have already graduated from tertiary education.