DENR awards 491 land patent in Mindanao

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] June 16, 2008
By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

BUTUAN CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) distributed 491 land patents to poor farmers in far-flung areas in Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and this region’s capital city, in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s directive to give the country’s poor easier access to land ownership and security.

The distribution of land patents under the DENR’s "Handog Titulo" program was one of the highlights of the week-long "Naliyagan" festival and charter celebration of Agusan del Sur spearheaded by Gov. Ma. Valentina Plaza, said Agusan del Sur DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Sixto C. Badua.

With the Theme: "Kalayaan sa Gapos ng Kahirapan, Kaloob ng Garantiya sa Sariling Lupa," the DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Bunawan town of that same province is set to distribute another 550 land patents to countryside folk, it was also learned.

Bunawan-CENR Officer Eutiquio Bade, Jr., and Specialist Victor Sabornido, already spearheaded the distribution of 117 land patents to poor farmers in the municipalities of Sta. Josefa, Trento and Bunawan, all of Agusan del Sur province.

CENR Officer Jovencio Munoz also distributed 107 land patents in Talacogon town of that same province.

PENR Officer Rosendo A. Asunto and Butuan City CENR Officer Achilles Ebron also distributed 267 land patents in the municipalities of Carmen, Nasipit and Buenavista, all of Agusan del Norte and Butuan City.

On June 12, Environment Secretary Jose "Lito" L. Atienza also led the distribution of more than 18,000 land patents and other tenurial instruments to bonafide residents in Metro Manila and other parts of the country during the 110th Independence Day celebration.

Land is a basic capital upon which all economic goods are produced. It is for this reason that every Filipino dreams of owning a piece of land, a land they can call their own," said Sec. Atienza.

On the other hand, the soft-spoken yet persuasive Agusan del Sur solon Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza, also said the government should exert more efforts to make this dream come true for all, especially the poor. "We will never achieve our own democratic ideals if we cannot provide security of land tenure to our own citizens," he added.
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