DAR regional director Celestina Tam and Secretary John Castriciones, USec. Emily Padilla, DAR central office director Romy Reyes, assistant regional director Ramon Estanislao stand together with the 281 farmer beneficiaries after the distribution of CLOA. Photo by Joann Manabat
MAGALANG, Pampanga – The Department of Agrarian Reform handed over certificates of land ownership award to farmer beneficiaries in San Vicente here Monday.
In compliance with Executive Order No. 75 signed by President Duterte in February 2019, which directs all departments of the government to identify idle lands suitable for agriculture to allocate to qualified beneficiaries, DAR distributed a total of 174 hectares out of the 310 hectares of the 508-hectare property of the Pampanga State Agricultural University to 281 farmer beneficiaries which included 74 agricultural graduates.
The turnover over of CLOAs was attended by DAR secretary Atty. John Castriciones, DAR regional director Atty. Celestina Tam, DAR central office director Romy Reyes, assistant regional director Ramon Estanislao, assistant secretary Ubaldo Sadiarin Jr., undersecretary Atty. Emily Padilla, PARPO II Atty. Joseph Sagampud Jr. with the beneficiaries from Damayan Commonwealth Farmers Association, Aeta Farmers Association, Agustin-Ayala Farmers Association, Barangay Baliti of Arayat, and barangays San Vicente, San Agustin, and Ayala in Magalang, and agricultural graduates.
In line with EO 75, Castriciones said, PSAU did not oppose the coverage of the agricultural land given to the beneficiaries and clarified that the collective CLOA is for the 310 hectares.
However, the secretary said PSAU filed an appeal as some portions of the 310-hectare land have existing programs and appropriate funds.
Castriciones furthered that DAR is currently doing an investigation to verify such programs and funds by PSAU as such basis are needed to fully acquire the idle lands.
He shared that DAR also plans to provide other benefits to the farmers such as tractors, fertilizers, solar-powered irrigation system, post-harvest facilities, roads and bridges, financial loan with minimum interest per annum, as well as a P1-billion housing project with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.
“Gusto po natin maging maganda, maunlad, at mayaman ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka. Isa mga pinakamagandang programa namin ay yung pabahay para sa mga magsasaka,” said Castriciones.
“Ito po ay may memorandum of agreement with DHSUD Secretary Edgar Rosario at sila po ay naglaan na ng P1-B para sa site development para sa paggawa ng daan, ilawan, canal para sa areas sa pabahay sa mga magsasaka,” Castriciones added. “Ang pabahay na ito ay 36 sqm. binubuo ng dalawang bedroom, living room, bathroom, at solar powered energy para hindi nawawalan ng kuryente.”
With the hope to encourage more Filipinos to engage in farming, Castriciones noted that providing land to the agricultural graduates will also help the farmers to impart efficient and modern farming technology to strengthen and improve the agricultural industry.
Tam, for her part, asks the beneficiaries to make use of the lands to help improve the lives of the beneficiaries and their families.
“Ang amin lamang pong pakiusap ay sana po ingatan nyo at pagyamanin ninyo ang lupang ito dahil alam naman po natin na ito ay ni-reserve for educational purposes para sa PSAU,” said Tam. “Sana po ay hindi mabenta, hindi mapunta sa iba, at sana ito ay magiging dahilan para po umunlad ang inyong pamilya.”
