Cagayan de Oro (November 4)– A total of 5,808.0712 hectares of agricultural land in region 10 were distributed to 3,400 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) during the distribution of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA).
Misamis Occidental with 127.1022 hectares and with 116 CLOAs filed for 134 ARBs; Misamis Oriental with 296.6230 hectares with 267 CLOAs filed for 241 ARBs, although, in the case of Tagpako, Gingoog City, 283 hectares of the said land will be awarded to former members of the New People’s Army, under the name of Tagpako Farmers’ Cooperative; Bukidnon with 1527.4515 hectares and 975 CLOAs filed for 1,218 ARBs; and Lanao del Norte with a total of 3,856.8945hectares with 1,153 CLOAs filed for 1,807 ARBs. Out of the total 3,856.8945 hectares, former members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from the municipality of Munai will be awarded 613.3009 hectares.
Milben Legayada, 58, a farmer from Dominorog, Talakag, Bukidnon, waited for almost 30 years. He claims to be the oldest recipient of the CLOA.
“It is a big help to us, and we are thankful to receive this, because for a very long time, at last, we were able to get the CLOA.” Legayada, who now owned three hectares of agricultural land, said.
According to Bukidnon Provincial Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, there are still thousands of hectares to be distributed in Bukidnon not only for ARBs but also for indigenous people in the province.
“Upon the distribution of this agricultural lands, we have to undergo in the proper process and to follow the law.” Zubiri, said.- Hensell Hebaya/ NewsLine
