Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio “Gil” delos Reyes. PHOTO FROM GOV.PH
MANILA, Philippines—A total of 2,623 farmers in Caraga region are now landowners, the Department of Agrarian Reform said on Tuesday following the distribution of titles to 3,790 hectares of agricultural land in the region.
In the province of Butuan, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio De Los Reyes led the distribution of titles to 3,260 hectares of farmland to 2,263 agrarian reform beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
The covered landholdings are in the municipalities of Butuan, Buenavista, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Las Nieves, Tubay, Nasipit, Carmen, RT Romualdez, Magallanes and Cabadbaran.
At the turnover, De Los Reyes told the new landowners that the government’s support for the farmers would not end with the distribution of land, but would include various support services to boost their livelihood.
ADAR news release reported farmer Edwin Espinosa as saying he was finally able to reap the fruits of the seeds he had sown over the years. “With the DAR on our side, I am certain that our newly acquired land will give us a better life,” he was quoted as saying.
Earlier, De Los Reyes also distributed 530 hectares of land to 360 tenants in the province of Dinagat Island. The farm lots are in the municipalities of Dinagat, San Juan, Cagdianao and Basilisa.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Jamil Amatonding Jr. said this was the first time an agrarian reform secretary had set foot on the province.
“The presence of our secretary gives a positive outlook to the farmers. The farmers said that they feel that the government is sincere in uplifting their lives,” he said.
The DAR also turned over P6 million worth of farm equipment to 1,046 beneficiaries in Butuan City.
The farm equipment includes a combined harvester, two jeep-mounted threshers, four cultivator power tillers, five threshers, and eight hand tractors.
De Los Reyes said the turnover of the farm equipment was being implemented under the department’s Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (Arcess) program.
“Part of the Arcess program is to provide you (the farmers) with farm implements or common service facilities to help improve your incomes. I hope that this equipment will also serve as a tool to unify your organization in taking care of these machines,” De Los Reyes said.