Government distributes more lands in Mindanao

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Agrarian Reform Sec. John R. Castriciones distribute an Emancipation Patent to Mr. Wilson M. Balena, an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary from Upi, Maguindanao, while Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol looks on. (DAR Photo)

MARAWI CITY: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones distributed last Monday, February 11, a total of 834 land titles in Buluan, Maguindanao.

ARMM Agrarian Reform Secretary Dayang Carlsum Sangkula-Jumaide said the Emancipation Patents (EP) and Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) received by 780 landless farmers cover at least 1,740.3 hectares in 17 municipalities of Maguindanao.

The latest turnover of titles comes at the heels of another land distribution late last year in Kidapawan City, Cotabato Province in Mindanao. This was the biggest single day land distribution in the history of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, where 6,424 farmer-beneficiaries receive a total of 11,443 hectares of agricultural land.

“Ang plano ko ay ibigay lahat. Sabi ko nga kay Secretary Castriciones, ‘Ibigay mo na lahat ‘yan sa panahon ko. Lahat ng lupa ng gobyerno. Para mataniman at maging progresibo,’” the President said in his keynote speech.

“Anong gagawin natin diyan? For what? For the future generation? Eh, ‘di mas mabuti pa you prepare the cultivation now. They will just continue the enterprise rather than wait for them tapos hindi matapos-tapos itong gulo dito sa atin sa Mindanao. Kaya ako, I will dedicate the remaining three years to a peaceful Mindanao,” Duterte added.

Wilson M. Balena, an agrarian reform beneficiary from Upi, Maguindanao, thanked and promised the President that he will cultivate the land he received.

“Pamilya po kami ng magsasaka. Pagbubungkal ng lupa ang aming ikinabubuhay pero ni minsan hindi pa kami nagkaroon ng lupang matatawag naming sariling amin talaga. Ngayon lang po. Ngayon lang, kaya ‘di maipaliwanag ang kasiyahan na nararamdaman namin ngayon.” Balena said.

“Ito ay katumbas ng aming buhay at ng magandang kinabukasan ng aming mga anak. Instrumento po ito ng kapayapaan, kaayusan at kaunlaran sa lugar namin at sa buong Maguindanao,” he added.

Jumaide cited that the distributed farm lots include 453.3 ha in Buluan, 396.1 ha in Kabuntalan, 175.6 ha in Datu Abdullah Sangki, 179.4 ha in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, 174.8 ha in Datu Paglas, 88.9 ha in Mamasapano, 48.9 ha in Mangudadatu,47.6 ha in Sultan Kudarat, 33 ha in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, 23.5 ha in Upi, 23.1 ha in Rajah Buayan, 19 ha in Datu Odin Sinsuat, 17.9 ha in Sultan sa Barongis, 17.6 ha in Ampatuan, 15.7 ha in Guidulungan, 11.6 ha in Talayan, and 10.1 ha in Talitay.

Officials who attended the program include Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, Maguindanao Governor Esmael G. Mangudadatu, ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman. 

(MASIDING NOOR YAHYA)