DAR CLOA distribution slated for 3,286 NoCot farmers

COTABATO CITY – A total of 3,286 farmer-beneficiaries in two agricultural towns in North Cotabato will receive next week their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR Secretary John Castriciones, representing President Rodrigo Duterte, will lead the distribution of 4,463 hectares of reservation areas under the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) in Arakan and President Roxas in North Cotabato on August 12.

Engr. Reynaldo Anfone, provincial agrarian reform program officer, said that DAR will be awarding 3,286 CLOAs to farmer-beneficiaries of the reservation areas covering six barangays of Arakan town, and a barangay in the adjacent town of President Roxas.

Areas covered in Arakan, according to Anfone, include Barangays Malibatuan, Naje, Makalangot, Badiangon, Meocan, and Doroluman; while only Barangay Ilustre in President Roxas was included.

“The USM and CFCST reservation areas with an approximate 7,200 hectares was allocated to the academes under the Proclamation No. 428 signed by then-President Carlos P. Garcia in 1957,” Anfone said in a statement.

Anfone added that based on the actual perimeter survey conducted by DAR, the USM reservation area has an area of more or less 5,018 hectares, of which 1,000 hectares were allocated to CFCST.

“This project is expected to greatly impact the security of land tenure of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the area,” Anfone said.

He said that with the issuance of CLOAs, land ownership will be ultimately confirmed and enjoyed by the ARBs.

“Their aspirations for secured land ownership will be finally achieved,” Anfone said, adding some 20 hectares of the total reservation areas with 11 potential agrarian reform beneficiaries are waiting for documents and validation.

Amid the existing health protocols due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the CLOA distribution ceremony will only be attended by 750 selected ARBs. -PNA