137 farmers receive land titles
A total of 137 farmers in Cebu received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) in a recent ceremony led by Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones.
The distributed land titles cover 133.3529 hectares of farmlands in the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, Tabogon, and Minglanilla.
In his message during the ceremony, Castriciones told the farmers that their CLOAs signify their “freedom from the bondage of tenancy.”
“This is the day for us to be happy, because our farmer beneficiaries finally receive their CLOAs that they have been wanting for a long time,” the secretary said.
He also emphasized the continuing commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to strengthen the agrarian reform program in the country.
He also assured the farmers of the continued government support and assistance to ensure agricultural productivity, as he named the farmers “the true heroes of the country.”
The secretary also disclosed that he is spearheading the housing program for farmers under the government Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
The housing program will be anchored on the capacity of the farmers to pay within a period of 30 years with an annual interest of 5 percent.
DAR 7 Regional Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr. said that the recent distribution of CLOAs is among the highlights in the overall accomplishment of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Cebu.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Elvira B. Bation disclosed that DAR-Cebu has already distributed around 35,198 hectares of farmlands to 34,319 ARBs as of April 30 this year.
Among the CLOA recipients were Eutropia S. Ababon, 82 and a widow from Vito Minglanilla town and Miguela Marco, 82, single of Candangas, Ilihan, Tabagon, Cebu.
The CLOA distribution was witnessed by Minglanilla Mayor Elanito A. Pena, Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis, Jr., Land Bank of the Philippines head Atty. Peter Cañoso, Cebu Provincial Assessor Atty. Hazel Espina, Director of Legal Service from DAR Central Office Atty. Resty Osias, DAR 7 Assistant Regional Directors Atty. Josephus A. Baterna and Engr. Eliasem P. Castillo