DAR Biliran overshoots CLOA distribution this year

By Rodrigo S. Victoria, PIA Biliran
December 22, 2005

NAVAL, Biliran  –  Not only that DAR Biliran is good in the implementation of agrarian reform infrastructure projects like the turnover on Tuesday of a post harvest facility and water system in Biliran Agrarian Reform Communities (BARCs) composed of five barangays but also in the implementation of one major areas of concern of the agency which is the distribution of Certificate of Land Ownership Agreement (CLOA) to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province of Biliran.

According to Julita B. Lacandazo, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) of Naval in DAR Biliran in an interview, she said that the office has distributed 400.7026 hectares of land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) over a target of 400 hectares of land for this year.

Also in the province of Biliran, some farmer-beneficiaries from identified municipalities in the province were awarded CLOA from DAR provincial office in simple ceremonies held in Brgy. Burabod, Biliran, Biliran. The occasion was attended by Biliran Governor Rogelio J. Espina, DAR Regional Director Tiburcio Morales, Jr., DAR ARDO Reynaldo Villas, representatives of DAR partner agencies.

Earlier of the day, newly acquired post-harvest facility and water system located in Brgy. Busali and Brgy. Burabod respectively in the municipality of Biliran were inaugurated. The inauguration ceremony immediately followed the awarding of CLOAs.

Per record reflected in the summary of CLOA for distribution in the province of Biliran as of December 21, 2005, the agency has already distributed a total land area of 350.8803 out of the five municipalities included in the report.

The total land area distributed forms part of the total land area already achieved by the agency for calendar year 2005.

The report includes the new lands with a total land area of 181.7993 acquired by the agency under CARP and the individual CLOA with a total land area of 169.081 distributed to actual tillers of the land with a total number of 182 ARBs.

Although the distribution of CLOAs is basically a tough job for the employees implementing CARP specifically in the distribution of lands, Lacandazo accepts it as a challenge especially that the underprivileged sector in society is benefitted.

On the other hand, Violeta O. Abad, MARO and at the same time the head of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PEMU) of DAR Biliran in interview explains that there are lots of factors that hinder in the successful implementation of CARP specifically in the distribution of CLOA.

However, Abad said that their office has just find the necessary administrative and legal remedies in order that CLOAs will be distributed to land beneficiaries,

Lacandazo and Abad are in one position that their agency is doing the right thing for the good of their clientle especially to people or farmers who are tilling the land for so long a time yet they have not owned the land they tilled.

For Lacandazo, Abad and to all the employees of DAR Biliran who help much in the realization of the dreams of underprivileged sector in society to have the land they tilled to be considered legally of their own, helping them realized their dreams is one big feat and accomplishment of the office.