By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed on a total of 1,614 certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to 711 farmer beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte.
Covering a total land area of 583.6947 hectares in the towns of Bacarra, Badoc, Banna, Burgos, Batac, Marcos, Paoay, Piddig, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Pasuquin, Bangui, Pagudpud and Vintar, Atty. John R. Castriciones, DAR Secretary said in an interview it was a long tedious process but with the convergence of all concerned government authorities, the intended farmer beneficiaries finally got hold of their CLOAs on February 22, 2019.
As he climbed up the stage to receive an authentic copy of his land title at the Laoag Centennial Arena, 84-year old Isidro V. Calma Jr. from Bacarra said he is thankful that at last, he has acquired an evidence that he is indeed the owner of a 1,395 square meter lot his father has long tilled when he was younger.
Under the extended Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of DAR, Mr. Castriciones reported they have lined up a series of CLOA distribution in various parts of the country in compliance to President Duterte’s directive to fast-track the distribution of the remaining land to landless farmers.
As the DAR secretary led the distribution in a simple ceremony attended by Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba and other officials of the DAR Region I, he reiterated to the beneficiaries not to sell their parcels of lands and use it to nurture their source of living.
“The CARP was designed to address social injustices. We have seen farmers joining a lot of movements to question seemingly injustice which has not been addressed in the past. We hope that you will take good care of it and let your children inherit from you,” Mr. Castriones said citing the Duterte administration believes one way of solving insurgency problem is to give land to farmers.
In 2018, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Karlo S. Bello reported that the DAR has distributed CLOAs for 60,777 hectares of land to a total of 41,287 CARP-beneficiaries.