THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental II has distributed and installed 32 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in two localities in the southern part of the province on Friday.

In Isabela town, 14 new landowners covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) will now cultivate the 14.6793 hectares of the landholding formerly owned by Silverio Mogar in Barangay Banogbanog.

Adhering to the modified general community quarantine protocols set to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), participants wore face masks and observed social distancing during the distribution and installation.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Betheresa Zamora, who led the distribution and installation rites, said the DAR has ensured that the farmers will own, possess and actually till the land awarded to them.

Prior to the actual installation, Zamora oriented the farmer-beneficiaries of their rights, duties and responsibilities.

She warned the ARBs that violations will result in disqualification or cancellation of their land titles issued to them.

Also, if they fail to do their responsibilities as landowners.

On the same day, DAR-Negros Occidental II also distributed about 36 hectares of agricultural landholdings to 18 ARBs in Candoni town.

The ARBs will now cultivate the 36.1372 hectares of five different landholdings after they received their certificates of land ownership award (Cloas).

Of these aggregate landholdings, 22 hectares covered the landholding formerly owned by Dionisio Hapinit and others located at Barangay Haba and will be divided among 11 ARBs.

Meanwhile, three farmer-beneficiaries will share the 8.31 hectares of the property previously owned by Pabiolo Pacino and others in Barangay Cabia-an, while two ARBs now own the 2.5549 hectares of the agricultural land formerly owned by Melecio Borromeo at Barangay Caningay.

One farmer from Barangay East now owns the 0.881-hectare of the property previously owned by Jashan Benito, while the other ARB will be cultivating the 1.39-hectare property which was covered by Carp under the name of Rosalia Camerin in Barangay Agboy.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Jeffrey Jardiolin urged the farmers to make their acquired lands productive.

He also advised them to fulfil their obligations as farmer-beneficiaries.

"Please organize yourselves as agrarian reform cooperative to avail various support services under our different major final outputs," Jardiolin said, adding that "the agency is just here, willing to assist you because this is our mandate."