SOURCE: PIA Soccsksargen
In the heart of the Soccsksargen region, KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, a profound change is taking place. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently distributed land titles to 1,371 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) in the province of Sultan Kudarat. These land titles are not just pieces of paper, they are the tangible fruits of hard labor and patience. The ARBs see this as a blessing, expressing immense gratitude to the government for their unwavering support.
Under the umbrella of the "Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling" or SPLIT project, the DAR has made monumental strides. Their commitment to agrarian reform is more than just lip service. The recent ceremonial turnover of the e-titles to ARBs at the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Sultan Kudarat is a testament to the agency's proactive approach.
Pababa Bansil, a farmer from Barangay Kapaya in Bagumbayan town, mirrors the sentiments of his fellow beneficiaries. Having tilled the land for at least 33 years, he sees the land titles as a godsend. Thanks to the government's initiative, Bansil is now free from the burden of unpaid taxes and emboldened to improve his rice and corn farms.
For Ernesto Forro, a 66-year-old resident of Barangay Kinayao, Bagumbayan, the ownership of an individual land title is a dream come true. His livelihood, like Bansil's, lies in farming. Having been a land tenant for at least 30 years, Forro is now reaping the sweet fruits of his labor. His gratitude towards the government is palpable.
Bansil and Forro are just two among the 1,371 ARBs who have recently received their e-titles from the DAR. This monumental act has created ripples of change, breathing a new life into the farming community of Sultan Kudarat.
Abdullah Balindong, provincial agrarian reform program officer of DAR-Sultan Kudarat, sheds light on the SPLIT project. The total parcelization of titles covers a vast expanse of 3,177.4610 hectares. This initiative aims to speed up subdivisions of the Collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award.
The SPLIT project isn't just about parcelization. Balindong emphasizes that the project also bolsters the security of tenure and strengthens the property rights of ARBs. This is a powerful step towards creating a more equitable land ownership structure in Sultan Kudarat.
The national government under the Marcos administration has taken a strong stance towards improving the lives of farmers. The distribution of land titles is a part of this steadfast commitment, an effort to liberate them from long-time debt and poverty.
The distribution of land titles is more than just a legal procedure. It's a symbol of change, a beacon of hope, and a testament to the government's commitment to agrarian reform. For the ARBs in Sultan Kudarat, this is a new dawn, a fresh start.
While this is a significant milestone, the journey of agrarian reform is far from over. As we celebrate this victory, we also look forward to more sustainable and inclusive development in Sultan Kudarat and beyond. The tale of these 1,371 beneficiaries is just the beginning. The future promises to be even brighter, filled with more such tales of tenacity and triumph.
