THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental–South has distributed certificates of land ownership award (Cloas) to 14 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Pontevedra town.

They will share almost six hectares of Hacienda Montserrat located at Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto, which was covered through a voluntary offer to sell under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ledabelle Ardiente, who led the distribution yesterday, July 10, reminded the ARBs not to engage in “ariendo” system as it is one ground for disqualification from the program.

Ardiente said beneficiaries should ensure prompt payment of their annual tax amortizations to the Land Bank of the Philippines and payment of land taxes to the Local Government.

Meanwhile, 36 potential ARBs recently signed their Application to Purchase and Farmers Undertakings (APFU) and took their oath at Binalbagan Municipal Trial Court.

The signees are farmers of landholding formerly owned by Maria Yulo covering 19.7 hectares located at Barangay Candumarao, Hinigaran town. They qualified in the screening process for Carp inclusion.

The prospective beneficiaries signed and took an oath before Presiding Judge Leticia Trigue, who then made them understand the content of the undertakings.