At least 244 small landholders in the province of Ilocos Norte have secured the land they are tilling with the help of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) which delivers their certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) right at their doorsteps.

Under the DAR-to-door program, DAR employees and officials are reaching out to the farmers by delivering their CLOAs to them.

“Instead of them coming to us, we personally visit them to deliver their CLOAs,” said Engr. Vic Ines, provincial agrarian reform program officer, in an interview on Friday.

Ines added that the continuing distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to the agrarian reform beneficiaries hopes to inspire them to make their lands more productive.

In support of the Duterte administration’s 10-point agenda and priority programs for improved land administration and management, the DAR is making an effort to expedite the CLOA title distribution amid a pandemic.

According to Ines, this approach is an attempt to bring in government’s services closer to the people, especially since some of the farmer-beneficiaries who are living in far-flung areas are already old and ailing and it is hard for them to join in the ceremonial CLOA distribution which is often conducted in the city.

The latest batch of beneficiaries covers a total land area of 56 hectares under the agrarian reform program.

These are located in various parts of Ilocos Norte.

Aleta Trinidad of Barangay Agaga, Burgos, Ilocos Norte, is thankful that she is now holding proof of ownership of land her family has been tilling for a long time.

“I am so happy that finally, I have secured my land title. This is an answered prayer,” said Trinidad, among the 244 new landowners who received agricultural patents this week. (PNA)