THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-North distributed over 28 hectares of land to 27 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Sagay City recently.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ramon Silvino Abiera, who led the distribution and installation rites held in Barangay Bulanon in the northern Negros Occidental city, expressed hopes that the land awarded to the farmers will further inspire them to be productive.

"This marks the attainment of the DAR's mandate of providing land tenure security to landless farmers through land acquisition and distribution," he added.

The 28.5051-hectare covered landholding formerly owned by Jose Tupas was distributed through land acquisition and distribution (LAD) process under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper).

The agency is mandated to acquire public and private agricultural landholdings to be distributed to tenants, farmers, farmworkers and other tillers who are qualified to become ARBs.

This is in the form of certificate of land ownership awards (Cloa) covering one contiguous tract or several parcels of land accumulated up to a maximum of three hectares per ARB.

DAR-Negros Occidental I said the land distribution and installation is anchored to 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 products and emergency resources to ensure their economic viability and productivity.

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