Army helps distribute CLOAs in Escalante

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Mar 9): Army helps distribute CLOAs in Escalante

THE Philippine Army recently assisted the distribution of Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in Sitio Martin, Barangay Hacienda Fe, Escalante City.

Isaias Solido, Escalante City Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (Maro), assisted by Major Antonio Tumnog, commanding officer of 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion, led the distribution of CLOAs to the agrarian reform beneficiaries at the Maro Escalante Office.

Both Solido and Tumnog have been active partners in implementing and in supporting different agrarian reform services in the area.

The land, covering 80.4397 hectares of agricultural land, was handed by the Bureau of Education in Escalante City.

All of the farmer-beneficiaries said they were happy that they are now the owner of the land they have been tilling for so long.

CLOAs are given as proof of ownership to identified agrarian reform beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) or Republic Act 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 agrarian reform beneficiaries while, at least, improving social lives.

The Carp implementation procedure involves the Department of Agrarian Reform 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 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion 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 every day. 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.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2013/03/09/army-helps-distribute-cloas-escalante-272047