In a significant stride towards agrarian reform in Cebu Province, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has granted land titles to 204 beneficiaries under its jurisdiction. These individuals, known as agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), have now transitioned from being mere tillers to legal owners of the land they have been farming for numerous years.
The distribution of these land titles occurred during a ceremony at the DAR office in Cebu City, a momentous event presided over by the DAR regional director, Atty. Romulo Quitain. This landmark event came under the umbrella of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), a government initiative focused on achieving a more equitable distribution of land to farmers and farmworkers.
The recipients of the land titles hailed from diverse towns in Cebu Province, including Balamban, Carmen, Danao City, Dumanjug, and Oslob. By awarding them the legal right to the land they have been nurturing, the government has empowered these individuals to enhance their livelihood. Now, these ARBs can leverage their land to grow crops, raise livestock, or build homes, thereby advancing their socio-economic status and contributing more significantly to their communities' development.
These land titles, referred to as Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), are a tangible manifestation of the ARBs' newly minted landownership rights. By awarding CLOAs, the DAR ensures that these agrarian reform beneficiaries hold a concrete legal instrument affirming their right to own, use, and benefit from the land.
The Department of Agrarian Reform, a government agency, shoulders the responsibility of implementing CARP. This program represents a long-term initiative, with the aim of ensuring a more balanced redistribution of land to the farming and farmworker communities, an objective deeply entrenched in social justice and economic redistribution. In its commitment to uphold the principles of CARP, DAR has reiterated its plans to continue the implementation of the program in Cebu Province.
As the agency moves forward, it remains hopeful of granting more land titles, thereby extending the scope of the agrarian reform to more ARBs in the future. This progressive action is reflective of the government's broader efforts to enhance social equity, rural development, and economic growth. In essence, the granting of these land titles goes beyond a simple legal transaction; it underscores a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable agrarian reform, social justice, and economic progress in the Cebu Province and the Philippines as a whole.
