SOME 113 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) were installed in a 45-hectare land in Barangay Pandanon in Murcia town recently.
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Negros Occidental I, in a statement, said amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the agency continues to hold and implement comprehensive and genuine agrarian reform.
It is determined to administer its mandate while observing the minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Health (DOH) in the areas under modified general community quarantine, it said.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Edelita Abanilla, who led the ceremony, told farmers to be productive and maximize the use of the land awarded to them.
"Always remember to be responsible in paying the annual land tax and other amortizations," she added.
The property where the farmers are installed was previously owned by Aida Moreno.
The installation forms part of the land acquisition and distribution efforts of the agency.
Through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extended Reforms (Carper), the DAR is mandated to redistribute government and private agricultural lands to landless farmers and farm workers.
"This aims to secure the farmers' land security, social equity and provide them with the necessary productive resources needed to ensure their economic viability and productivity," it added.