Handog Titulo Program by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in collaboration with the 11th Infantry Battalion and Local Government Unit of Moises Padilla, NOC facilitated the individual Land Title of 66 farmers in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
Guihulngan City - Troops from 11th Infantry (Lapu-lapu) Battalion facilitated the awarding of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) to 2, 066 farmers, giving the certificates of stewardship contract to 712 farmers, application of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title to 201 farmers, release of emancipation patent to 288, conduct of resurvey/documentation to 1, 201 farmers, the petition for inclusion and exclusion to 180 CLOA holders and legalized crop sharing to 132 farmers.
Thanks to the Philippine Army, particularly 11th Infantry Battalion’s Bayanihan Teams. The farmers and their families who have been waiting all their lives to be able to proudly till their own piece of land.
Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac, the 11th IB Commander, stressed that his unit seriously tackled Agrarian Reform issues that foment insurgency in the countryside. He believes that if the root causes of insurgency such as land reform and poverty, will be addressed effectively and efficiently through the convergence of concerned stakeholders, peace and security can easily be achieved.
More than 2,000 farmer beneficiaries in central Negros Island received their CLOA. Most of them have literally drenched the fields with their own blood, sweat and tears, and dedicated their being to ‘their land’ yet remained unsure of their fate.
Among the new CLOA holders, Valentino Paunal, 72 yrs old, from Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental surfaced as the longest waiting CLOA aspirant. For 50 years, his family still lived on a borrowed piece of land not knowing when the landowner would expel them from the plantation. But a ray of hope flashed for the aging couple when, early this year, soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion, came to their barangay offering assistance to every household in resolving prevailing and long standing issues. In a few months since Bayanihan Team arrived in the barangay, the old couple among others, finally received their CLOAs from DAR. The land they titled for decades was finally theirs.
Meanwhile, the Bayanihan Team (BT) activities in 11th IB started early in 2011 in Guihulngan City following the implementation of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan "Bayanihan". Initially tagged as "Peace and Development Teams".
The BTs are deployed to immerse in different barangays in order to help in the identification and resolution of primary issues affecting the people, such as but not limited to agrarian reform.
Through convergence of efforts among various stakeholders such as DAR, DENR and LBP. It also aims to bridge the perceived gap between the farmers and the stakeholders and eventually facilitate the implementation of government programs and services especially in far-flung areas.
Mayor Francisco Nazareno of Moises Padilla congratulated the soldiers from 11th IB for a "job well done" in facilitating the release of the CLOAs to the farmers in his municipality. "These people waited for many years that the land they cultivate be given to them (through CLOA)," Nazareno said.
Vice Mayor Omar Gayares of Isabela, Negros Occidental also noted the efforts of the soldiers in promoting social justice and equality. "Iba na talaga ang sundalo ngayon," Gayares stressed. The Army’s 11th IB hosted a Multi-Stakeholder Agrarian Reform Awareness Symposium together with the DAR/ MARO/ DENR/ LBP/ DILG and participated by 302 farmers from hinterland barangays of Isabela.
The barangay Captains in Guihulngan City and Valleher-moso, both of Negros Oriental support Gayares observation.
"They feel secure with the soldiers. Peace and order in our barangay significantly improved," according to a Barangay Chairman from a remote barangay in Guihulngan City.
http://ndb-online.com/062713/local-news/local-news-army-helps-4780-farmers-island-negros
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