1,819 land titles issued to CAR farmers

DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rosalina Bistoyong distributed 937 hectares parcel of agricultural land awarded to 1,652 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from the different provinces in the

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The CLOAs awarded covered a total land area of 937 hectares in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mt. Province.

DAR has intensified CLOA distribution and the provision of support services to ARBs in the country to support the thrust of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to emancipate farmers, especially those in the far-flung villages from poverty.

Bistoyog said it took them huge amount of hardwork, time and effort for them to provide these lands to the Indigenous People community in the region.

Ifugao was awarded with 453 CLOAs, followed by Mt. Province with 412, Benguet with 399, Kalinga with 390, Apayao with 122,and 43 in Abra.

Bistoyong also encouraged the ARBs to fully develop their lands as she recognized the vital role of farmers in securing the food needs of the Filipinos.

“Farmers support the food security of communities and our country,” she said.

Data provided by DAR Cordillera regional director Atty. Marjorie Ayson revealed 387 ARBs from Mt. Province received their CLOAs covering a total of 45.4614 hectares during the two-day distribution ceremonies; 379 ARBs with 191.9154 hectares from Kalinga; 376 ARBs with 225.4345 hectares from Ifugao; 351 ARBs with 299.0722 hectares from Benguet; 120 ARBs with 134.7007 hectares from Apayao; and 39 ARBs with 40.7926 hectares from Abra.Ayson added that two support projects were also turned-over to ARB organizations and cooperatives on Wednesday.

These projects include the Community-Managed Potable Water Sanitation and Hygiene (CPWASH) worth P240,000 and the Village-Level Processing Center Enhancement Project (VLPCEP) worth P900,000.

The CPWASH will cover three ARB communities consisting of 38 households who are members of three ARB organizations and cooperatives in Benguet.

Part of the CPWASH project is six units of water tanks that will provide safe drinking water to the ARBs in the area.

The VLPCEP project, on the other hand, will benefit two ARB communities and two ARB organizations in the areas of Atok, Sablan and Tuba in Benguet

Among the recipients of VLPCEP projects are the Arabica Coffee Growers Marketing and the Agrarian Reform Community Multi-Purpose Cooperatives in the area.

DAR will deliver more projects to the ARBs in Cordillera, particularly the distribution of coffee seedlings and other machinery to develop further their lands.