849 Siargao farmers receive land titles

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 849 farmers in Siargao, Surigao del Norte have been awarded land titles covering 1,153 hectares.

The distribution of certificates of land ownership award was held in ceremonies led by Agrarian Reform Secretary Bernie Cruz on the island on Friday.

He said the distribution of parcels of land was in line with Executive Order 75 President Duterte issued on Feb. 1, 2019.

“When you become a CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) beneficiary, you have to pay a specified amount for land amortization but if you are a beneficiary of EO 75, it’s free, you don’t have to pay even a single cent,” Cruz said.

He said the President directed the distribution of available land to farmers in Siargao to help them recover from the devastation of Typhoon Odette.

Siargao was among those hardest hit by the typhoon as rice fields, banana farms and coconut trees were destroyed.

Task Force Agrarian Siargao-Dinagat headed by Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary David Erro identified the government-owned land suitable for agriculture to be given to farmers in Burgos, Del Carmen, Gen. Luna, San Isidro, Pilar and Socorro towns.