The Department of Agrarian Reform recently distributed 120 hectares of agricultural lands in Donsol town in the province of Sorsogon.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Leonito M. Gaveria said 35 farmer-beneficiaries of the program received the certificate of landownership award. They now expect “a great improvement in their economic lives.”
“The DAR’s mission is not only to distribute lands to landless farmers, but also to provide support services because our purpose is not only to make you owners of the land you till, but also to transform you into entrepreneurs,” Gaveria told the farmers.
Gaveria advised the farmers to join in agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations so they would benefit more from DAR’s support services.
He cited the Village-Level Processing Center Enhancement Project in Bulan, Sorsogon, and other projects under the program beneficiaries’ development as examples of how the DAR transforms the ARBs into entrepreneurs.
Donsol Mayor Josephine Alcantara-Cruz said the beneficiaries are very fortunate to have these opportunities. “Make your land productive, it is your ticket as your way out from poverty,” she told the farmers.
Land Bank of the Philippines Representative Rollie Dela Peña said private individuals used to own the distributed properties and that the new CLOA holders should pay their amortizations to the bank.
“I am so thankful to DAR because I got this land. Me and my fellow beneficiaries will pay our dues and we promise that we will do our best to develop these landholdings,” said Fe Tan, one of the land recipients.