DUPAX DEL SUR, Nueva Vizcaya , Oct 29 (PNA) — At least 59 farmers in barangay Sta. Maria here Tuesday received their land titles from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) through the ‘Handog Titulo’ Program.
The recipients were members of the Sitio De Victoria Kapili Association, Inc.(SDVKAI) who were given 1,400 square meter lot each.
Forester Marcelo Bumidang, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer(CENRO) said the upland farmers were already in the area for 30 years.
Under the provisions of Land Act, they can be given land titles within the area which is classified as Alienable and Disposable(A&D).
Bumidang said the group sought the assistance of the agency after realizing their rights to own a portion of the more than 20 – hectare area.
“What they did was more faster scheme because they organized themselves as a group and their technical documents were accomplished and submitted as one,” he said.
Another 200 land titles, Bumidang said, are set to be distributed to upland villagers and rebel returnees in barangays Nantawakan, Tadjie and Bua in Kasibu town and in barangay Lublub in Alfonso Castaneda town in the coming months.
“We are encouraging other upland farmers to organize themselves for a faster processing of documents,” he said.
The release of the land titles was witnessed by governor Ruth Padilla and officials of the Land Registration Authority(LRA), DENR and the brgy council.
Gift packs were also distributed to the recipients by governor Padilla. (PNA)