Isabela, Negros Occidental - Since January, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has officially installed 129 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as landowners in southern Negros Occidental, under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
According to Philippines News Agency, these installations have occurred over 94.8399 hectares of landholdings from January 1 to May 15, 2024. Additionally, DAR distributed land titles encompassing 398.1384 hectares to 422 ARBs during the same timeframe. Notably, on May 7, the department facilitated the installation of 14 ARBs in Barangay Bungahin, Isabela, during ceremonies led by Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ariel Miranda. This land, formerly owned by Dolores Rufino, totals 7.3016 hectares and was acquired through compulsory acquisition.
Similarly, in Moises Padilla town, another 10 ARBs took possession of their land in Barangay Inolingan. These 12.4543 hectares, previously belonging to Mercedes Montilla, were also secured through compulsory acquisition. This ongoing process of land acquisition and distribution, part of the CARP Extension with Reforms, underscores the government’s commitment to transferring both public and private agricultural landholdings to tenants, farmers, farmworkers, and other qualified tillers.