Officials of the World Bank (WB) have visited a Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) project in Narra, Palawan to observe the validation process and interview farmer-beneficiaries of the government’s land reform program.
The trip was in line with a directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary Conrado Estrella III to expedite the subdivision of lands for distribution to the farmer-tenants.
It also ensures that the progress of subdivision of lands awarded to the agrarian reform beneficiaries under collective certificates of landownership award was on track.
The agrarian project being carried out, under the auspices of the WB was meant to improve land tenure security and stabilize the property rights of farmer-beneficiaries nationwide.
Field Operation Office Assistant Secretary Joey Sumatra, SPLIT national project director of the support for parcelization of lands (SPLIT), said the project would also help increase land productivity and income of the small farmers that could contribute to boosting the economy in the countryside.
“Our team here in Palawan is working incessantly to achieve their target this year. Tomorrow, we will be going to Aborlan to continue our activity and with the effort that they are showing to us, I believe that they can attain their objective for the year,” he said.
Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office Assistant Secretary Rene Colocar and MIMAROPA director Marvin Bernal and the WB delegates spearheaded the project.