By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes has distributed a total of 464 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Zamboanga del Norte during his recent visit here, covering 756.7044 hectares of land with 394 beneficiaries.
In a ceremonial turnover ceremony held at Top Plaza Hotel here, Secretary de los Reyes personally handed the CLOAs to the ARB representatives from Godod, Sirawai, Siayan, Sindangan and Dapitan City.
Two hundred ninety seven CLOAs were received by Felix Ligutom for Godod, 34 CLOAs by Majid Baid for Sirawai, 81 CLOAs by Eufrocina Quitong for Siayan and Sindangan, and 52 CLOAs by Abraham Bayron for Dapitan City.
De los Reyes also distributed 225 CLOAs for Zamboanga del Sur, 144 of which were received by Expedito Padigos Sr. for Dumingag town and 81 by Flordeliz Dagooc for V. Sagun municipality.
In the same occasion, the secretary also turned-over to the Zamboanga del Norte provincial government 20 multi-million ARCP2 projects with Labason town receiving 8; Sindangan, 3; Leon Postigo, 4; and Baliguian,5.
The event was also witnessed by Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn T. Uy, DAR-9 Regional Director Julita Ragandang, municipal mayors, farmers, and the other stakeholders.
De los Reyes came here to grace the groundbreaking of the P58-million rehabilitation project of Dipolog Communal Irrigation System at sitio Banicapt in barangay Galas this city.
The project is funded under ARCP-2 with 50 percent counterpart from the city government.
It will be implemented by Vicente Lao Construction and is expected to be completed in 210 days. Once completed, the project is expected to benefit not only the 486 ARBs in the area but also the residents of nearby barangays.
“The completion of the project is expected to increase the cropping intensity of the farmers in the area and improve their living condition through increased crop production,” the secretary said.
The project traverses barangays Gulayon, Sta. Felomina, Galas, Olingan, Punta and Sinaman.
