SAN JOSE, Antique — A total of 224 farmers from this province are expected to avail of land titles under the Land Acquisition and Distribution Services of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Lucy Macavinta, Information Officer of DAR — Antique reported that there are 152 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Barangay Iglinab, Valderrama covering 139.6619 hectares under Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) No. 2757. Land survey was done in 2008.

A total of 72 ARBs are expected to avail of CLOA No. 60 in Carawisan I San Remigio, Antique with a total land area of 410.1958 hectares. The team of surveyors from DAR has started surveying the area in October this year.

Marlyn Salvani, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer said that for ARBs to avail of the land titles, they have to go to the nearest DAR Office once they have received a notification that they are a beneficiary.

“To process the individual titles will take some time because the beneficiaries have to comply with the requirements set by agencies involved in land titling,” said Salvani.

After individual CLOAs have been awarded the farmers, the latter can use the titles to avail of agricultural loans from the Land Bank of the Philippines, an accredited bank of the DAR to enhance agricultural productivity and boost government’s food security program.

Time and again, DAR Antique has been named best performing DAR provincial office in terms of CLOA distribution under the Land Acquisition and Distribution services of the Department.

The DAR is the lead implementing agency of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). It undertakes land tenure improvement and development of program beneficiaries.

The agency conducts land surveys in resettlement areas and is involved wtih land acquisition and distribution and land management studies.

It also orchestrates the delivery of support services to farmer-beneficiaries and promotes the development of viable agrarian reform communities.