THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed land titles and installed 72 farmers from three localities in the southern part of Negros Occidental.
In Kabankalan City, 25 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) received the certificates of land ownership award (Cloas).
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Sharlyn Lacuesta, who facilitated the distribution on August 27, said 13 of the new land owners will share the 4.86-hectare of the landholding formerly owned by Juan Sola in Barangay Camansi.
The remaining 12 ARBs are dividing the 12.72 hectares of the landholdings previously owned by Godofredo Almonia in Barangay Orong, she added.
In Isabela town, 15 farmers who will share the 18.98-hectare landholding formerly owned by Teresita Antique located in Barangay Cabcab in Isabela town were installed on the same day.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Betheresa Zamora said this was already the second installation attempt of the office due to the series of land conflicts in the area.
"This victory belongs not only to the agency but more to our farmer beneficiaries who have fought for their rights as new landowners," Zamora said.
She lauded the unity of the DAR, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and the barangay council that made the installation peaceful and successful.
Captain Reymond Jamisal of the 62nd Infantry Battalion led the military team in assisting the agency.
Captain Joseph Partidas of Isabela Municipal Police Station was also present during the installation.
In Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, meanwhile, the agency installed 32 ARBs after receiving their land titles covering the 10-hectare landholding formerly owned by Sandra Dezoller on August 24.
For his part, officer-in-charge Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Arnulfo Figueroa reminded the farmers to cultivate their land diligently and make it productive.
Figueroa asked farmers to refrain from engaging in illegal activities like selling and leasing of land and as a good steward of the parcels of land awarded by the DAR.
"Farmer-beneficiaries must perform their obligations by paying their taxes and land amortizations to the Land Bank of the Philippines," he said.
DAR-Negros Occidental II assured that precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the farmers, its personnel and those of other partner agencies amid the threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) were strictly observed during the distribution and installation rites.