[ Manila Bulletin Online ] May 2, 2008
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Negros Occidental thanked members of the House Agrarian Reform Committee for the five-year extension of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) that is set to expire on June 15.
In line with the continuing implementation of the program, DAR recently distributed Certificate of Land Ownership Awards to 50 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Hacienda Nervion II, Barangay San Pablo, Municipality of Manapla.
The distribution of the CLOAs was initiated by Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Norberto Lingaya, supported by Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer 1 Dr. Gideon E. Yongque Jr., the Office of the Mayor, Barangay Chairman Benjie Cabayao, and former barangay chairwoman Josefa Cabayao.
The estate was placed under the CARP through a Voluntary Offer to Sell Scheme as signified in the letter of offer of former owner Ma. Rosa Ynza Ortega, duly represented by Emilio and Helen Rodriguez.
A total of 99.2660 hectares were distributed to 50 qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
Yongque and Lingaya reminded ARBs of their rights and privileges as well their obligations to Land Bank of the Philippines for land amortization and to the local government unit for the land taxes.
Barangay chairman Cabayao advised the ARBs not to sell their rights over the awarded lands.
Mayor Manuel Escalante Jr. also advised the ARBs that the municipal government is willing is to give them assistance when they start tilling their lands.
Lingaya also informed ARBs that a Seminar for Sugar Farm Management Technology will be conducted, and in cases where awarded lands still have standing crops, ARBs have to wait until the crops are harvested before taking over the awarded land.
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