As the government continues to help the people in Negros Occidental to return to “normal” after the devastation by typhoon “Odette” in December, the Department of Agrarian Reform has distributed 4,728.67 hectares of agricultural lands to 4,754 landless farmers.
Secretary Bernie Cruz said he is optimistic that the lands awarded to the farmers would serve as a new beginning toward a brighter future for them and the next generations to come.
“We are very happy that we’re able to finally award these lands. Our people in the department encountered many challenges upon processing these lands so that we could give these properties to the farmers in accordance with the law,” he said.
About 3,033.71 hectares of land were awarded to 2,830 agrarian reform beneficiaries from the southern part of the province, including Bago City, Binalabagan, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra and Sipalay City.
In the northern part, 1,694.96 hectares were distributed to 1,924 beneficiaries from Bacolod City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, DS Benedicto, EB Magalona, Escalante City, Manapla, Murcia, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, and Victorias City.
Cruz said due to restrictions of the local government of Sipalay, only 70 beneficiaries were invited to represent the 4,754 farmer recipients during the “Build, Back, Better!” event.
