34 farmer-beneficiaries take oath before DAR 11

JOSE ABAD SANTOS, Davao Occidental – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 11 recognized some 34 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) here.

Each of the ARBs received an individual Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) with areas ranging from halfa-hectare to a maximum of 3.000 hectares. The land was formerly owned by Maria and Alfredo Medel.

The CLOAs were distributed by the DAR 11 represented by Assistant Regional Director or Operations Venchito Mandap and Davao del Sur Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Atty. Juancho P. Calud.

During the installation and distribution of the titles, the DAR officials took turns in thoroughly discussing the profile of the covered area for ARB installation, emphasizing the intent and the provisions of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

As the officials emphasized the obligations of the ARBs, the prohibitions and the necessity of installing the ARBs, they also enjoined the ARBs to make the land productive in order to pay the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

The newly-installed ARBs have organized themselves and named their group as Don Manuel Medel Small Farmers Association in honor of the estate patriarch who submitted the land under CARP’s voluntary offer to sell scheme.

The ARBs were thankful to the former estate patriarch whom the farmers described as a good and kind person.