Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental — The Department of Agrarian Reform – Northern Mindanao, Province of Misamis Oriental distributed Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to selected ARBs in the City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. The land distributed covers 17 hectares of agricultural lands formerly owned by the Lugod landholdings.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO II) Maybelle Alcala, together with the Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Noel Supremo and the Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Audie Saclote handed to 6 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of Barangay 26, Poblacion their dreamed CLOAs.

In a simple ceremony, Alcala said the DAR is mandated to distribute lands to landless farmers and provide support services to ensure that the farmers will cultivate and make the lands given to them productively to improve their lives.

“Make these lands richer and do not sell these properties because it is against the law. The government can reclaim it and give it to more qualified individuals,” Alcala said.

The land was awarded through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the government’s social justice program to redistribute private and public agricultural lands to advance the economic conditions of small farmers.

Liezel Gutang, one of the ARBs, thanked the DAR for the properties that they received.

“I believe that what we have received will be a big help in improving our lives. We promise that we will take care of it,” Gutang said. ###