The cooperative consisting of 168 members is among the 2,672 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs)across the six provinces in Davao Region who received their electronic land titles (e-Titles) during the distribution led by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last February 7 at the Rizal Memorial Colleges, this city.
COSTAFBA chairperson Mayonito Bulasa said he was speechless when he received the e-Title and shook hands with the President for the first time.
“Wala ko kabalo unsay buhaton adtung tungura. Wala ko kasabot sa akong gibati ( I didn’t know what to do at that moment. I didn’t understand what I felt),” Bulasa said at the Thanksgiving celebration which the group held on February 8 at the gymnasium in Barangay Cogon, Talicud Island. The island is part of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.
Barangay leaders, officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform in the province of Davao del Norte, and other guests including lawyers joined the festive mood in rejoicing the hard-earned success of COSTAFBA and their families.
Agrarian reform beneficiary Arnulfo Sumalinog was thankful that he and other beneficiaries had survived the hardships they encountered including the lack of funds needed to follow up the papers.
Given the sacrifices, that the ARBs encountered, Crisostomo N. Bernaldez, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARPO) in Davao del Norte reminded them to take care of their titles and treasure their lands for the welfare of their families.
He also dismissed rumors that the e-titles are fake. “Naa koy nadungog nga peke daw ang titulo kung peke to mahulog pud nga peke pud ko mao ni anhi gyud ko para magpamatuod nga mao na gyud na (titulo) dugay atung pag antos makuha na so ampingi gyud ninyo inyung mga titulo (I overheard that the titles are fake. If the titles are fake that would mean that I am fake too. That’s why I really came here to confirmthe titles are true. We sacrificed for a long time to get the titles, so, take good care of your titles),” Bernaldez said.
He also said the ARBs should be thankful to the present administration for strengthening the land reform program like the signing of President Marcos of Executive Order No. 4 Series of 2022 imposing a one-year moratorium on the payment of the principal obligation and interest of the amortization due and payable by ARBs under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and other agrarian reform programs or laws.
He said, this was reinforced when the President signed into law on July 7, 2023, Republic Act No. 119953 “emancipating the ARBs from financial burden by condoning all principal loans, unpaid amortizations, and interest and exempting payment of estate tax on agricultural lands awarded under the comprehensive agrarian reform program”.
Conflicts and disagreements are normal among ARB associations, thus, Samuel Cardeno, the farmer's organization representative from the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) urged the beneficiaries particularly in barangay Cogon to unite and work harder to make their lands productive.
The distributed e-Titles were generated through the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT)Project, replacing traditional paper titles with a more secure and convenient digital format.
During the February 7 distribution, the President vowed to complete the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and distribute the covered lands to the farmers before his term ends. Text and Photos Judy Quiros
COSTAFBA chairperson Mayonito Bulasa shares his joy of getting his e-Title and shaking hands with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
COSTAFBA ARBs (back portion), DAR personnel, and other guests listen to the speakers during the Thanksgiving celebration held at the gymnasium in Barangay Cogon, Talicud Island.
Crisostomo N. Bernaldez, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARPO)in Davao del Norte tells the ARBs that the distributed e-Titles are genuine contrary to the claims of some groups that the land titles are fake.
ARBs and their families join the celebration.
Some COSTAFBA ARBs and guests
ARB Arnulfo Sumalinog recalls the hardships they experienced for the last 30 years.
Samuel Cardeno, the farmers' organization representative from the provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) advised the ARBs to set aside conflicts and focus on making their lands productive. He also urged the ARBs to treasure their titles.
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