Since the Agrarian Reform Law was enacted in 1988, about 98 percent of agricultural land has been distributed to the farmers in Northern Mindanao who are Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

DAR-10 Director Zoraida Macadindang, in an interview Friday, said Region 10 is already classified as a “low-land acquisition and distribution region” because targets were almost achieved over the years.

Macadindang said the recent turnover of titles, led by DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, was the distribution of some 999 hectares of farmland to 654 ARBs, during his visit to the city.

“This year our target (land area for distribution) 1,200 (hectares) more or less. We have (already) registered CLOAs (Certificates of Land Ownership Award), and we have up to December fully distribute (them to the ARBs),” she said.

“We still have around more 700,000 hectares of land nationwide to be given (to the ARBs),” Macadindang said.

Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Estrella said the agency plans to expedite in distribution CLOAs and e-titles.

The distribution of CLOAs and titles was part of the launching event for the “Agraryong Abogado Todo Serbisyo sa Benepisyaryo,” which mandates DAR lawyers to assist ARBs in their loan applications for their farmlands.

Elizabeth Puebla, an ARB from Lanao del Norte, said that with the CLOA, her children up to her grandchildren can now till the land which they can call as part of their property. (PNA)