Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries receives land titles from MAFAR

COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform distributed certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to farmers in the province of Maguindanao, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday, December 28.

Minister Mohammad S. Yacob Ph.D, said in an interview that the distribution of the land titles is part of the continuing efforts of MAFAR-BARMM to free the farmers from the bondage of landlessness and poverty.

A total of 351 agrarian reform beneficiaries received their respective individual CLOAs during the distribution activity, Yacob added.

The CLOAs will cover a total area of 788.9238 hectares, “Ownership of the land they till is very important for the farmers,” he said.

Yacob noted that the productivity and income of farmers are affected if they do not have control over the land they till.

“They cannot decide how to improve their production to augment their income because the land is not owned by them,” he said.

With the ownership through CLOA, farmers will have security over the land they own. They can fully develop it with the support programs, projects, and services to aid the farmers in the development of their landholdings.

“Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries or ARBs are formed into ARBOs or Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations. It is through these organizations that support programs and services of MAFAR are coursed through,” Yacob said.

Last August, 50 farmer-beneficiaries also received CLOA. Since 2019, MAFAR has already granted 507 land titles to 758 beneficiaries in the Bangsamoro region, covering a total of 1,590.29 hectares and a balance of 101 795/7177 hectares.

On the other hand, Senior Minister Macacua said: “Your acceptance of this CLOA is an excellent opportunity for you to show what you can do to improve the lives of our people (in the Bangsamoro). Even if only your family can afford it, the contribution to the Bangsamoro Government and the Bangsamoro people is good.”