A total of 129 farmers from Barangay Hacienda in this town received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) nine years after filing their application for the landholding to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
“Almost nine years so inalagar tayo. Say antak mankukugip ak ni. Twa la manaya (We waited for almost nine years. I thought I was still dreaming but it’s actually happening),” said Malonie Tejada, one of the farmers-turned-new-landowners.
Ricardo Cunanan, another beneficiary, said they went through a lot of difficulties before they finally owned the land.
“Sa tulong ng DAR at sa awa ng Diyos, nakamit po natin ang ating inaasam-asam na lupa (With the help of DAR and by the mercy of God, we finally got the land that we have been yearning for),” he said.
In a phone interview on Wednesday, DAR Pangasinan provincial information officer Zarena Ann Amado said the farmers became agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who will enjoy the privileges from DAR and other national government agencies once they join agrarian reform beneficiary organizations.
“The farmers learned their rights and responsibilities as titleholders, as well as the support services that they are entitled to as land awardees,” Amado said.
She said the 40-hectare landholding in the barangay, which was owned by Eduardo Dee and sold to Dr. Macario Feliciano, was acquired by the DAR through compulsory acquisition and went through several legal processes before finally getting registered with the Registry of Deeds this year.
DAR Director Maria Ana Francisco reminded the new ARBs to cherish their land during the turnover ceremony last week.
“Cherish this title. Now you have something to hold on to. Finally, you can call yourself land awardees,” she said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
