The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed land titles and various support services in Tarlac to help uplift the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province.

DAR regional director James Arsenio Ponce said on Friday 123 ARBs received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) covering 48.827 hectares of agricultural lands in a ceremony held at the Bulwagan ng Kanlahi Convention Center, San Vicente, Tarlac City as led by Secretary Conrado Estrella III on Thursday.

“The beneficiaries are now rightful owners of the lands they till as they receive their titles. Land distribution remains the heart and soul of agrarian reform,” Ponce said in a statement.

Aside from the distribution of CLOAs, he said the DAR also turned over various farm machinery and equipment to seven ARB organizations (ARBOs) through its Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP).

The ARBOs that received various farm machinery and equipment from CRFPS include Pao Kadamortisan Irrigators Association, Inc., Bantog Anao Bagong Sibol Farmers Association, Inc., Calibungan Agriculture Cooperative, Calipayan ARBs Association Inc., Bigbiga ARBs Association, Inc., Magao Ortilano Modernong Magsasaka Association, and Sulong Sto. Rosario ARBs Association.

Also, 32 farmers graduated from the DAR’s Farm Business School (FBS) to enhance their entrepreneurial and marketing skills.

In a statement, Estrella said the support given to the farmers would help boost their farming activities.

“Our support does not end here. We will give them additional capital to create an alternative source of income such as poultry, or raising farm animals,” he said. (PNA)