61 ARBs are now agri landowners

Over 131 hectares of agricultural land were distributed to 61 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) during the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) distribution ceremony held in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

A report from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Iloilo said that the property was previously owned by the heirs of Nicanor Paguntalan, with an area of 195.6243 hectares, situated in the town’s Barangay Sto. Tomas, Barotac Viejo town.

In her message, OIC- Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO I) Lourdes Causing advised the beneficiaries to establish a cooperative to further boost their farm production and income.

This could be done through linkage to financial institutions to easily access farm inputs and machineries provided by the government.

Meanwhile, Barotac Viejo Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Eleanor Herrada held an orientation to ARBs on their rights as landowners as well as their obligations to pay taxes and amortization with the Land Bank of the Philippines. (PIA/DAR-Iloilo)