SEVENTY-SEVEN farmers in southern portion of Negros Occidental have received land titles from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently.

In Hinigaran town, 33 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) received their certificate of land ownership awards (Cloa) on Thursday, October 28.

Municipal Senior Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Charmie Rojo said that of the number, 22 ARBs will share the 16.3136-hectare agricultural land formerly owned by Juan Isasi situated at Barangay Palayog.

The 10 other beneficiaries, on the other hand, are now the new owners of the 15.1756 property covered under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp).

It was previously registered under the name of Margarita Nosce located at Barangay Bato.

In Bago City, 34 farmer beneficiaries were given land titles involving the 30.8635 hectares of the agricultural landholding previously owned by Lucy Araneta Solinap situated at Barangay Busay.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Emma Annabelle Delmoro, who spoke at the distribution rites on October 21, said the land title distribution is one of the highlights of the Land Tenure Security Program.

“This is the lifeblood of Carp,” she said, telling the farmer-beneficiaries to “help the agency uphold your rights as tillers to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance your agricultural lands and improve your quality of life.”

Present also were Senior Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Doanne Ritz Consumo and Agrarian Reform Program Technologist John Aldrin Guilaran.

Meanwhile, four farmer-beneficiaries also received their land titles involving the 2.0131 hectares of the agricultural property of Sergio Flores located at Barangay Paticui, Hinigaran on the same day.

Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Daisy Montalban told the new landowners to be mindful of their rights and obligations under the law by religiously paying taxes and land amortization.

She urged them to “practice good stewardship over this blessing that God has given to each one of you.”

“You must refrain from engaging in prohibited acts that may disqualify you as an ARB, such as the selling and leasing of lands,” Montalban added.