Bacolod city: The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Negros Island Region (DAR-NIR) has officially taken charge of three provinces in the Visayas. DAR-NIR will now oversee the provinces of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor as part of Project SPLIT (Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling), a World Bank-funded initiative aimed at converting collective land titles into individual titles for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

According to Philippines News Agency, documents related to Project SPLIT from the Central Visayas Region have been handed over to DAR-NIR. Manuel Galon, the chief of DAR-Negros Oriental, stated that in addition to Project SPLIT, which forms a part of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), all operational and administrative functions will henceforth be managed by the regional office located in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

During the turnover of documents, Galon expressed confidence that the strategic location of the regional office would facilitate smoother transactions. Previously, Negros Occidental was part of the West Visayas Region, while Negros Oriental and Siquijor were under the Central Visayas jurisdiction.

Galon also mentioned that DAR-NIR is exploring the possibility of establishing a satellite office in Siquijor to reduce the need for clients to travel by sea to Negros Oriental for their transactions.