ARBs in Bentuco got their CLOAs

PARPO Leo & Joseph Lim, the Landowner’s representative shakes 

hand as they handed

the CLOA to the ARB

“This land is very sentimental to us because we inherited it from our parents. Hopefully, you will also value it and make it productive,” this is the statement of Joseph Lim, the landowner’s representative, during the distribution of Certificate of Landownership Award (CLOA) to the farmers of Bentuco, Gubat, Sorsogon.

On March 22, 2016, a simple CLOA Distribution Ceremony was held at the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office of Gubat/Prieto Diaz Cluster, Gubat, Sorsogon. The occasion was attended by the representatives of Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Land Bank of the Philippines, and the landowner who personally handed the CLOAs to the new Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of the 23-hectare Simon and Jose Lim Estate.

“This is the fruit of our labor, to be able to distribute CLOAs,” said Nelson Espaldon, MARPO of Gubat/Pto. Diaz Cluster, in his welcome message.

Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, explained to the ARBs that it is the government through the LBP that paid the landowner. Thus, it is their responsibility to pay the amortization to the LBP within 30 years and the land tax to the Treasurer’s Office. He also emphasized that the awarded land can only be transferred through hereditary succession or to other qualified beneficiaries pursuant to existing guidelines. He also explained the role of the ARB Organizations and he encouraged them to become a member.

“I don’t want to see that the land we awarded to you is lying idle. Make it productive,” said PARPO Gaveria.

Likewise, Engr. Noli O. Olitin, CARPO of Land Tenure Improvement Division, explained to them how the landholding was acquired from the landowner and, finally, its distribution to the ARBs. He added that the Municipal Assessor can already issue tax declaration in the name of the ARB using the copy of the approved survey plan and the CLOA provided to the Municipal Assessor.

DAR Officers, Representatives of the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, LBP, 

Landowner, and the ARBs holding the copy of their CLOA 

“Your obligation to the government as taxpayers start upon the registration of your CLOAs,” said Engr. Olitin. “In the other hand, arrearages in the realty tax prior to the registration of the CLOA will be deducted by the LBP from the proceeds of payment due the landowner and issued with a check in the name of the LGU concerned.”  

CARPO Liza B. Repotente of the Program Beneficiaries Development Division informed the ARBs of the support services that the government is providing through ARBs’ organization or cooperative. She encouraged them to join one and further mentioned its significance towards making the land productive.

In behalf of the ARBs, ARB Rolando Bagasala expressed his gratitude to DAR Sorsogon for their support to the landless farmers.