TARLAC CITY -- Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed Emancipation Patent (EP) and Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to about 147 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Tarlac.

A total of 158.71 hectares of land was given out to farmers in the municipalities of Concepcion and La Paz to help them improve their livelihood.

“One of the mandates of DAR is to distribute land titles to our farmers,” Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla said.

Land Acquisition and Distribution, which aims to give EPs and CLOAs to landless farmers, is under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

“To date, the Province of Tarlac is number one in land acquisition and distribution in the country,” DAR Tarlac provincial agrarian reform program officer II Geraldine Yumul said.

Padilla likewise led the awarding of livelihood assistance and farm equipment worth Php5.6 million to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs).

PhP5.235 million worth of goods were distributed to 17 ARBOs from the city and different municipalities while Php325, 000 worth of farm equipment under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program was given to Anao Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, Comillas FFC Agriculture Cooperative and Amia Cruz Farmers Association Incorporated.

The conferment of goods and equipment of DAR is in partnership with Department of Social Welfare and Development under the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARBs. (PIA-Central Luzon)