30th Anniversary DAR gives land titles to Bohol farmers

CARMEN, BOHOL, Philippines — While celebrating its 30th year, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) had distributed land titles to deserving farmers in Bohol province, during ceremonies held at Carmen town.

DAR Secretary John Castriciones said certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) were distributed to 419 farmer-beneficiaries from 22 clustered towns of Bohol, covering a total of 475.29 hectares.

Having a CLOA entitles a beneficiary to own and till the land thus ensuring food security and peace to them, he said.

Castriciones was one of the guests of honor during the 30th year celebration of DAR, held in Bohol and participated in by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Virginia Orogo, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) representatives.

Mayor Ricardo Francisco Toribio of Carmen said he was happy of the opportunity that this agriculturally-rich interior town hosted the distribution of CLOAs, administered by Castriciones and Orogo. Aside from CLOA windfall, recipients also received a bonus of 419 scholarships for their relatives, courtesy of TESDA.

Castriciones told the local media that DAR’s three main duties and functions are: To acquire and distribute lands to the true tillers; to serve agrarian justice; and to provide support services.

DAR said there are five clusters of farmers who are beneficiaries of CLOA: The Tagbilaran cluster consisting of the towns of Catigbian, Loon and San Isidro; Carmen cluster (Carmen, Bilar, Lila, Loboc, Pilar, Sevilla, and Sierra-Bullones);

Jagna cluster (Alicia, Candijay and Guindulman); Talibon cluster (Buenavista, Danao, Getafe, Inabanga, and Sagbayan; and Ubay cluster (Dagohoy, San Miguel, and Trinidad).

Mayors Juliet Dano of Sevilla town, Danny Guevincan (Dimiao), Angelina Simacio (Anda), Natividad Gonzaga (Danao), Eugenio Datahan (Pilar), Nunila Mendez-Pinat (San Miguel), and Jacinto Naraga (San Isidro) also graced the event where their respective constituents were among the CLOA recipients.

Others who attended the event were DAR Undersecretary Emily Padilla, Governor Edgar Chatto, Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, Representatives Dakila Carlo Cua of Quirino province, Francisco Datol of Senior Citizens party-list, and Rene Relampagos (1st district, Bohol); and DAR-Bohol Director Gace Fua, among others.