THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-North awarded over 15 hectares to 35 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in a series of certificate of land ownership award (Cloa) distribution and installation rites in Cadiz City recently.

These activities involved landholdings formerly owned by Lope Celiz and property previously managed by Jan Michael Young, both located in Barangay Mabini in the northern Negros Occidental locality.

The program was conducted through the process of land acquisition and distribution (LAD) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper).

Under which, public and private agricultural landholdings are acquired by the government to be distributed to tenants, farmers, farmworkers and other tillers who are qualified to become ARBs.

This is in the form of Cloas covering one contiguous tract or several parcels of land cumulated up to a maximum of three hectares per ARB.

This is anchored on the agency's aim to provide lands to landless farmers and farmworkers, guarantee the farmers' land security, deliver social equity, and provide them with the necessary productive resources needed to ensure their economic viability and productivity.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Hannah Jubay, who led the ceremonies, said the agency seeks to secure the tenurial status of the farmers in the lands they till.

"Now, as new landowners, we urge you to bear a great harvest for your respective families and remember the tax responsibilities and other obligations that come with it," she told farmer-beneficiaries.

With Negros Occidental under the modified general community quarantine, the activities complied with minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Health.