The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced the distribution of certificate of land ownership awards (CLOAs) to a total of 1,065 farmers in the provinces of Kalinga and Eastern Samar.
In Kalinga 745 farmers were awarded their CLOAs, proof of ownership of lands awarded by the government under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, during a simple ceremony in Tabuk City on April 12.
The awarded lands are in the municipalities of Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Rizal, Tabuk and Tinglayan.
The awarding of the CLOAs was led by Agrarian Reform Secretary John Rualo Castiriciones.
Castriciones, in a statement, said the awarding of CLOAs demonstrate the Duterte administration’s recognition of the important role of small farmers while being victims of social injustice. He noted poverty is the culprit behind the attraction of peasants to “other ideologies.”
The distribution was graced by Undersecretary Karlo S. Bello of the Field Operations Office, who apologized for the long-overdue distribution.
The delays, Bello pointed out, were due to the long processes of land titling. The DAR, he added, is doing its best to issue titles to actual tillers to give them absolute control over their basic resource and in the process, propel progress in the countryside.
In Eastern Samar the DAR chief distributed CLOAs to 320 farmers. The distribution was led by Bello. The CLOAs cover a total of 614.6 hectares of agricultural land.
DAR Region 8 data revealed that of the total land areas distributed, 354.3 hectares are in the municipality of San Julian; 76.5 hectares in Maydolong; 33.8 hectares in Dolores; 32.3 hectares in Lawaan; 27.7 hectares in Giporlos; 22.8 hectares in Salcedo; 19.2 hectares in Quinapondan; 19 hectares in Balangiga; 18.7 hectares in Can-avid; 6.4 hectares in Borongan; and 3.9 hectares in Balangkayan.
The distribution of the CLOAs in Kalinga and Easatern Samar were witnessed by other DAR officials and local government units.