Sunday, March 10, 2013

52 New Lands, 52 New Lives

Posted to the Negros Daily Bulletin (Mar 9): 52 New Lands, 52 New Lives

By the 3rd CMO Battalion, 3ID, Phl Army

Fifty Two farmers from Sitio Martin, Barangay Hacienda Fe, Escalante City were in high spirits to have finally given their official document of land tenure with the distribution of their individual Certificate of Land Ownership (CLOA) by the Department of Agriculture (DAR) last March 6, 2013.
Isaias Solido, Escalante City Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) assisted by Major Antonio Tumnog, Commanding Officer of 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion, Philippine Army (3CMOB, 3ID, PA) led the distribution of CLOAs to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) at the MARO Escalante Office. Both have been active partners in implementing and in supporting different agrarian reform services in the area.
The agreed land, covering 80.4397 hectares of agricultural land were willingly handed by the Bureau of Education in Escalante City.
All of the farmer-beneficiaries felt better-off now to have finally been the owner of the land they have been tilling for so long. From the said generous act, farmers will also have better control of the management of their product as they bring their produce to the market.
CLOAs are given as proof of ownership to identified ARBs under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or R.A. 6657.
The CARP is a Philippine state policy of agrarian reform that ensures and promotes welfare of landless farmers and farm workers, as well as elevation of social justice and equity among rural areas. It aims for a nation with equitable land ownership and empowered ARB while, at least, improving social lives.
The CARP implementation procedure involves DAR and other agencies such as the Land Management Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Land Bank of the Philippines, Register of Deeds and the Armed Forces of the Philippines through its different branches of service like the Philippine Army, among others.

After the CLOA distribution, MARO and the 3CMOB affirmed that they will continue to provide the necessary support services to determine and achieve agrarian reforms to the different sitios and barangays in the city.

As lands were given, farmers will have their own sense of ownership and responsibility to cultivate their own lands as they tend to meet their family needs everyday. Farmers will no longer need to worry about paying rent for the utilization of land and for the fear of being driven out as its tenant.

The said distribution represents a notable feat for the farmers and for the community who admitted that they almost given up hope of owning their land after several years of waiting. Patience, persistence and fearless efforts between parties paid off as the departments and agencies continue to help one farmer at a time to have the opportunity under the rule of law to have their own land. This is a clear manifestation of the continuing efforts of the Bayanihan activities as stakeholders join hand in hand in resolving conflicts and land tenure problems in the area.*(ISAO, 3CMOB)

http://www.ndb-online.com/030913/local-news/local-news-52-new-lands-52-new-lives-3rd-cmo-battalion-3id-phl-army

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