NINETEEN agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), who are now landowners, were installed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Victorias City recently.

A total of 3.0653 hectares located in Barangay 10 have been awarded to the farmer-beneficiaries.

The landholding was formerly owned by Tagabenit Farm Ventures Inc.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ma. Jade Sollesta, who spoke at the installation activity, urged ARBs to cultivate the land awarded to them.

"Make it an instrument to improve your lives," she told farmers, reminding them to remember their responsibilities including the payment of taxes and amortizations.

The three-hectare land was distributed by the DAR through land acquisition and distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper).

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

This in the form of certificate of land ownership awards (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.

With Negros Occidental still under the Modified General Community Quarantine, the activity has complied with minimum health protocols set by authorities.*