DAR distributes 188 has. of land to Ifugao farmers

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Tuesday distributed a total of 307 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) covering 188.64 hectares of government-owned lands to Ifugao farmers.

“There are 100 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Alfonso Lista town, 121 ARBs from Asipulo and 86 ARBs in Kiangan,” the Philippine Information Agency-Ifugao's post on social media said.

Information Center manager Marcelo Lighawon said the CLOAs were received by the beneficiaries in an event at Southville Inn in Ifugao capital town Lagawe.

Aside from the distribution of CLOAs, Lighawon said the DAR also briefed the ARBs about the agency’s program, projects and other information about the department’s priorities to advance President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to expedite the distribution of land to the farmers.

Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones said with the distribution of land titles, President Duterte wants farmers’ lives to be more comfortable.

Duterte earlier directed DAR officials to fast-track the processing of CLOAs and distribution of the titles to beneficiaries all over the country.

Castriociones also told Ifugao farmers that the department will continue the processing and distribution aside from extending support services to beneficiaries.

If only to aid the farmers, the DAR also facilitates and links the sector for them to avail of housing projects, scholarships from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, provision of crop insurance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., and credit assistance from the Land Bank of the Philippines, and other financial institutions.

One of the ARBs, Elsa Codamon, 54, of Baguinge, Kaingan town said her family now has confidence and protection over the land they till after waiting for many years. -- PNA