PINAMUNGAJAN, Cebu, Philippines — At least 136 agrarian reform beneficiaries finally received their Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Cebu Province.

The CLOA covers nearly 153 hectares in Anopog, Pinamungajan which was part of the Felix Barba Estate landholdings.

The distributed lands were Philippine National Bank (PNB) foreclosed properties as well as government-owned lands (GOL) covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Venue for the CLOA distribution which was marked by a simple ceremony was held at the Barangay Anopog Stage Hall.

DAR-7 OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) I in Cebu, Paulino R. Tudlasan Jr., was assisted in the CLOA distribution by Pinamungajan Vice Mayor lawyer Maria Honeylette Yapha Lingad, Sangguniang Bayan members Francisco Billiones, Bonifacio Alquiza, Anopog Barangay Captain Wensceslao Gentapa, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer for Admin, Dr. Andrea Paciana S. Labra, and Pinamungajan OIC Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Jaynes James Abarrientos.

Tudlasan congratulated the farmer-beneficiaries and advised them to make their lands productive. He reminded them to dutifully pay amortization to Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the realty tax of the awarded lots.

He encouraged the new landowners to strengthen their people’s organization, and increase agricultural production especially. Barangay Anopog was launched as an agrarian reform community (ARC).