THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed a total of 3,524 certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) covering 6,103 hectares of land to 3,273 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani (Soccsksargen).
Of the 6,103 hectares distributed, 3,692 hectares were subdivided into 2,166 electronic land titles (e-titles) and awarded to 1,871 ARBs, DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III who led the distribution was quoted in a statement as saying.
The distribution was held under the “Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling,” or “Split,” project of the DAR. The project subdivides collective CLOAs (CCLOAs) that were previously issued by the agency.
“Issuing separate titles for each farmer-beneficiary is better because it enables them to have a clear and defined ownership of the parcels of land they are tilling,” Estrella said. “It will also give them the freedom to plant whatever they want on the lands awarded to them and not conform with what the majority wants.”
Subdividing the awarded lands covered by a CCLOA would mean that each farmer beneficiary would be given an individual land title based on the actual area or a particular portion of land they are tilling.
Aside from Split land titles, also distributed were certificate of land ownerships award or CLOAs issued under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and government-owned lands under Executive Order 75.
Of the CLOAs under CARP, 1,143 CLOAs covering 2,216 hectares of land were awarded to 1,220 ARBs, while 215 CLOAs under EO 75 covering 194 hectares of land were given to 182 ARBs.
Estrella also cited House Bill 6336, which aims to condone the existing loan of farmers has been approved on its second reading by the House of Representatives.
“When the law is enacted, ARBs who are yet to receive their awarded land under the CARP will receive it without any obligation to pay any amortization,” Estrella said.
