FIFTY-SEVEN farmers in two localities in the southern part of Negros Occidental took their oath before the court to become agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) of the Department of Agriculture.

Of the number, 30 potential ARBs are from Moises Padilla who took their oath before Presiding Judge Ma. Lynette Eusebio of Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Moises Padilla and Isabela on Wednesday.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Bonifacio Trayvilla said 25 of these farmers have qualified to become farmer-beneficiaries of the landholding formerly owned by Resty Panisa in Barangay Quintin Remo.

The five other potential ARBs are farmers of the landholding previously owned by Elmore Jardinico in Barangay Guinpanaan.

Meanwhile, the 27 remaining potential ARBs are from Bago City.

They took their oath before Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Aireen Bonghanoy on the same day.

These farmers will share 100.8669 hectares of five landholdings located at Barangays Bacong, Pacol, Sagasa and Busay, all in Bago City.

Officer-In-Charge Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Arnulfo Figueroa, in a press statement, said the potential ARBs also signed the Application to Purchase and Farmer's Undertaking (APFU) that underscores their rights and obligations as farmer-beneficiaries.

"During the oath-taking, the importance, need and significance of the APFU were explained, especially the rights and obligations, of the farmer beneficiaries such as their willingness to work on the land to make it productive and their obligations under the law involving the payment of amortization and real property tax," Figueroa said.

The official stressed that in order to facilitate the processing of the land acquisition and distribution of the landholding, it is important that qualified ARBs must attend the oath taking and sign the undertaking.

"Failure to take oath and sign the APFU within the prescribed period without valid reason shall be construed as lack of interest to become an ARB and shall be considered as waiver of such right under the Carp," he said.