DAR distributes e-titles to 1.7K farmers

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- A total of 1,730 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Bicol Region, under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, has recently received their electronic land titles (e-titles).

In a phone interview on Monday, Geri Buensalida said the initiative of DAR Bicol is part of the program of Secretary Conrado Estrella III and DAR Bicol's regional director Reuben Theodore C. Sindac to speed up the distribution of land titles to the rightful owners of the land.

“We are very thankful to our Secretary since as of today, computers, equipment, overhead projectors, survey instruments, and motorcycles were delivered to DAR Bicol regional office. The equipment will be distributed to the six different provinces according to their needs. It will be a great help to speed up the efforts in processing the land titles for our farmers,” Buensalida said.

He added that since the full implementation of the SPLIT project in Sept. 2021, DAR Bicol has accomplished the 1,730 e-titles until Dec. 2022 which covers 2,858 hectares with Collective Certificates of Landownership Awards (CCLOAs).

“Under the SPLIT project, the DAR divides the awarded lands covered by a collective certificate of land ownership award (CCLOA) and gives agrarian reform beneficiaries individual e-titles, allowing them to have secure oawnership and control over their lands,” Buensalida said.

In a statement, DAR Bicol regional director Reuben Theodore C. Sindac said the land distribution in the Bicol region is part of the Secretary's commitment when he was appointed by President Marcos.

He said they validated 34,657 hectares of land with CCLOAs as a target for 2023 to be divided to farmers of which 25,960 hectares have been issued with approved survey plans in anticipation of individual titling in the coming months.

Masbate has achieved the highest accomplishment with 985.33 hectares; Camarines Norte-473.14 hectares; Camarines Sur I-455.32 hectares; Camarines Sur II- 368.59 hectares; Sorsogon - 336.11 hectares; Albay-197.87 hectares and Catanduanes - 41.84 hectares.

“These numbers indicate a brighter direction of Project SPLIT in the region, as evidenced by the recent accomplishments of the different provinces,” Sindac said.

Sindac added that there is still a long way to go, and must continue to work closely to achieve more in the coming years.