DARPO distributes 111 has. of agri land to Cebu farmers
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, June 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) in Cebu recently distributed a total of 111 hectares of agricultural land to 217 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Argao and Dalaguete, Cebu on June 14, 2012.
The covered landholdings were placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in a Voluntary Offer To Sale (VOS) scheme of Florentino Sejismundo, Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT) scheme and those untitled lands awarded under MC 14. These were situated in 12 different barangays in Argao. The identified barangays in Argao are Langub, Bug-ot, Alambijud, Sumaguan, Campi-oan, Balisaong, Lapay, Anajao, Bulasa, Sua, Cansuje, and Sumaguan and in barangays Tapon, Salong, Kutu, and Mantalongon in Dalaguete town.
The distribution of the Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) was led by Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) for Administration Dr. Andrea Paciana Labra held at the Natures’ Park Function Hall in Poblacion, Argao, Cebu.
Chief Environment of Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) in Argao Alejandro Gestopa, Chief Legal Assistance Atty. Alvin Arante, OIC CARPO for Operations Lilian Guanzon, and Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Aida Gaviola assisted in the CLOA distribution.
Prior to the distribution, Atty. Arante discussed the rights of the agrarian reform beneficiaries which are the rights as an attribute to as an owner, to a support services, and to cultivate, occupy the land and maintain possession of the same.
Arante reminded the ARBs for the compensable landholdings to pay their obligation to the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) in 30 years annual amortizations with a six-percent interest per annum, and their obligation to pay the real property taxes due on their awarded lands.
Furthermore, Atty. Arante made them aware that the ARB is obliged to keep the land awarded to him or her intact, and he may not subdivide the land in favor of his children or heirs.
Meanwhile, Labra also extended her warm congratulations to the farmer-beneficiaries as she urged the farmers to coordinate with the MARO for the issuance of tax and to make the awarded land useful.
She encouraged the ARBs to become a member to an organization to benefit the delivery of support services, to make their lands more productive, enable them to venture in income generating livelihood projects and participate in community governance in the implementation of DAR programs.
CENRO Gestopa congratulated the farmers and expressed happiness that the partnership in the implementation of the DAR program brings transformation in the lives of the farmers.
Leonor Sarona, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude exclaiming, “I can’t believe after all these years of waiting, since my grandparents’ time, we are happy that the Sejismundo family did not hesitate to offer their land through DAR.” He assured they would cultivate and make the land productive.
Among those who attended the CLOA distribution were DAR municipal staffs: Agrarian Reform Program Technologists Efren Lanutan, Jane Rama , provincial staffs : CLOA Processor Asuncion Empasis, Computer Programmer Roger Magtajas, and Provincial Information Officer Rosanna Gay Visitacion.
The distribution of the CLOAs was in line with the department’s mandate to distribute agricultural lands to qualified farmer-beneficiaries to uplift the socio-economic status and full development of the rural areas.
The occasion was also in line with the 24th anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), now extended for another five years which took effect in July 1, 2009, through RA 9700 known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).(FCR/HFG/PIA 7 with DARPO)
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Search is on for 2012 Freedom Project‘deadline for nomination is July 31’
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, June 26 (PIA) -- Initiatives that bear participatory democracy, good governance, human rights and competition that exemplify and promote freedom may be nominated to the ongoing search for the 2012 ‘Freedom Project.’
The Freedom Project aims to recognize outstanding initiatives that promote, safeguard and maximize the benefits of freedom. It seeks to translate freedom from a mere concept to actual programs that influence how individuals perceive themselves in relation to their role in society.
Up for nominations are: a) bills or legislation in Congress that promote participatory democracy, safeguard human rights, and advance free trade b) policies in government agencies and departments that uphold transparency and accountability in civil service c) existing programs in the local community that exemplify good governance d) initiatives that empower individuals and e) projects that allow people to enjoy freedom, and teach responsibility that comes with freedom.
Nominations can be made online at www.fnf.org.ph/thefreedomproject as deadline for submission is on July 31.
An undertaking of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), qualified entries will be posted on the FNF website and will be part of the online voting. The FNF is a German political foundation that advocates liberal democracy while the project is part of its campaign ‘It’s All About Freedom.’
Presentation of selected entries will be on September, this year. An independent jury will deliberate on the winner of the Freedom project. The project that garners the most number of online votes and the choice of the independent jury will receive separate recognition.
The winners will each receive an award.
The Freedom project also hopes to foster appreciation of freedom as it relates to issues that affect people and communities, and to solutions where one can be part of. Through recognition of such worthy initiatives, public awareness will heighten and there will be replication and involvement.
Among the winners in 2011 were the Enhanced Literacy Program of Tagum City, Davao del Notre; Platform Human Development 2010, United Nations Project; House Bill No. 3773 or An Act Institutionalizing the participation of bona fide civil society organizations in budget hearings and deliberations in Congress, in national government agencies and the local government units proposed by Rep. Erin Tañada; Yellow Boat Project in Zamboanga City; Sustaining Teaching Excellence Program (STEP) of UP-Visayas; and Programs and Services to Empower the PWDs in Carmona, Cavite. (PIA-Cebu)