ALMOST DONE. Samuel Solomero, regional director of the Department of Agrarian Reform-Cordillera Administrative Region, leads the 14-day “Kordilyera Negosyo Agraryo Trade Fair" at SM Baguio City on Friday (July 21, 2023). He said 97 percent of the target 97,000 hectares of land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program have already been distributed. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DAR-CAR) said at least 97 percent of its 97,000 hectares under the Comprehensive Land Reform Program (CARP) have been distributed, an official said on Friday.
“Our scope is 97,000 hectares in all Cordillera provinces. We have distributed over 94,000 hectares already,” said Samuel Solomero, regional director of DAR-CAR, during a press conference at the opening of the 14-day "Kordilyera Negosyo Agraryo Trade Fair" at a mall here.
Solomero said there are 101,000 beneficiaries of the CARP in the Cordillera.
He added that many beneficiaries since the passage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law in the 1980s have complied and paid their monthly amortization, allowing them to fully own the awarded property covered by the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA).
Solomero said that they still have to make a final count of those who will benefit under the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Law, which is considered one of the flagship legislations of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Our agrarian reform beneficiaries are very committed to tilling the land they received under the CARP program,” he said.
DAR’s assistance is in the form of land acquisition and distribution, support services component, farm inputs, and even marketing of the produce of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), according to Solomero.
Aid to ARBs
Lorna Dela Cruz Ayala, manager of a cooperative in Sipa, Imelda, Barokbok, Emiliana, and Sta. Marcela (SIBES) based in Apayao, said that her father received more than one hectare of land thru CARP about 12 years ago.
With the help of DAR, they were able to organize the cooperative which has 275 beneficiaries so far.
Their cooperative is engaged in producing processed chili, vegetables, and fruits.
Ayala said they are thankful to the government for the help.
Aside from the DAR, the Department of Trade and Industry also assists them as to how to better market their products outside the region. (PNA)
