Manila: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Oriental distributed land titles to thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in July, an official said Tuesday. The distribution, which took place in Bago City, Negros Occidental, marked the first phase of DAR's target to provide land titles to 5,000 beneficiaries by 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, DAR-Negros Oriental provincial agrarian reform program officer Manuel Galon stated that 2,600 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) were distributed to 1,382 ARBs, covering a total of 1,960 hectares. Galon explained that many ARBs received more than one title because the DAR issues titles per lot covered by the land reform program.

The beneficiaries who received their CLOAs last month hailed from various areas including Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Manjuyod, Bais City, Mabinay, Tanjay City, Pamplona, Bayawan, Sta. Catalina, and Siaton. Due to transportation and other constraints, only 500 beneficiaries were present in Bago City to collect their land titles, while the rest were represented.

Meanwhile, DAR-Negros Oriental is also awaiting the release of approximately 2,000 additional titles pending with the Registry of Deeds, Galon noted.