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CEBU CITY—The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently installed 32 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in landholdings formerly owned by the Paz Luna Corporation.

The official installation of the ARBs was conducted in a ceremony held at the Panugnawan Activity Center in Panugnawan, Medellin.

The landholdings were covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in 2000 with a total area of 78.95 hectares.

The agricultural lands are located in barangays Panugnawan, Medellin, and Dalingding, Daanbantayan, Cebu.

“Through this peaceful installation, we are ensuring that the farmers shall own, possess and actually till the land awarded to them,” said Regional Director Luis B. Bueno.

Bueno said the installation was previously resisted by the landowners themselves as well as by some farmer beneficiaries who were either identified as loyal to the previous owner or who has contracted lease agreement involving their awarded lands.

In his message to the ARBs, Bueno reiterated the marching order of President Rodrigo Duterte to pursue an “aggressive” land reform program that will help alleviate the life of poor Filipino farmers.

Prior to the actual installation, Atty. Alvin Arante of DAR-Cebu Legal Division conducted an orientation for the farmers of their rights, duties, and responsibilities. He warned the farmers that there are violations that will result to disqualification or cancellation of their land titles issued to them if they failed to do their responsibilities as landowners.

Arante encouraged that farmers to take good care of the land awarded to them and to refrain from doing what is prohibited under the law, like leasing and selling the land.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Elvira Bation in her message emphasized that giving land titles is not the end of CARP, but it is only the beginning. “The department will continue to give support services for the farmers like trainings, farm implements and access to credit. Please make the land productive and do your duties and obligations like paying taxes and amortizations of your land.”

In attendance during the installation ceremony: Municipal Mayor of Medellin Joven J. Mondigo, Jr. and Panugnawan, Medellin Barangay Captain, Juanico Diaz, Assistant Regional Directors Eliasem Castillo and Josephus Baterna, Chief Agrarian Reform Officer Lilian Guanzon, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers, DAR-Cebu Sheriff Herman Capule and DAR-Cebu personnel. (Yuna Kintanar, Information Officer)

Photo 1: Regional Director Luis B. Bueno with Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Elvira Bation shakes the hand of a farmer-beneficiary.

Photo 2: DAR Sheriff Herman Capule reads the writ of installation.

Photo 3: The 32 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) installed in landholdings formerly owned by the Paz Luna Corporation.

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