The properties formerly owned by BAPA Management Corp. have total combined areas of 270.1238 hectares located at Hacienda Amanda, Barangay 8 in the northern Negros Occidental city.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Jeremiah Barrientos, who led the activity, reminded the ARBs of their duties and responsibilities as new landowners like paying taxes and amortization with the Land Bank of the Philippines as well as making their land productive.

“Refrain from involving in any illegal activities that may lead to your disqualification,” he told farmer-beneficiaries.

The DAR also briefed the ARBs on its different programs like land tenure improvement, agrarian legal services and access to support services, among others.

As mandated under Republic Act 6657, the agency is vested with the primary jurisdiction to determine and adjudicate reform matters and extend free legal assistance to farmer-beneficiaries affected by agrarian cases.

Moreover, the DAR said it continues to provide support services heeding to its vision of a just, safe and equitable society that upholds the rights of tillers to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance their agricultural lands, and improve their quality of life towards rural development and national industrialization.

“The field activities conducted by the DAR are evidence of its unwavering support to the tillers of the land despite the inconveniences brought by the pandemic,” the agency said, adding that “the service to the Filipino people never stops.” (EPN with PR)