BULUAN, MAGUINDANAO – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, February 11, led the ceremonial distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) here, promising a more progressive Maguindanao.
Addressing more than 700 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), President Duterte urged them to make good use of the agricultural lands.
“Mga kapatid kong Moro…if you are there…I just distributed ‘yung hinahawakan kong dokumento that’s about, on the average, 2-3 hectares. I distributed something like 1,740 hectares lahat ‘yon. So marami kayong beneficiaries diyan,” President Duterte said.
“Kunin niyo ang inyo. Cultivate it. Hintayin mo lang ang panahon na ‘pag nagkulang na ang pagkain because of the climate change, wala nang tutubo doon sa iba. Tayo naman ‘yung may lupa at tayo naman ‘yung mag-presyo,” he added.
A total of 834 CLOAs covering more than 1,700 hectares were distributed in Maguindanao to 780 beneficiaries hailing from 17 municipalities of Maguindanao Province, namely Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Paglas, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Guindulungan, Kabuntalan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Rajah Buayan, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, Talitay, and Upi.
The beneficiaries include tenant-farmers, farm workers, agricultural lessees, and cooperatives within the same barangay or municipality.
The Chief Executive said he has ordered Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones to look for more idle lands, especially government lots, that farmers could cultivate and generate profit from.
“Sabi ko nga kay Secretary Castriciones, ‘Ibigay mo na lahat ‘yan sa panahon ko. Lahat ng lupa ng gobyerno. Wala namang nakikialam diyan. Pati bukid ibigay mo na itutulo mo para mataniman at maging progresibo,’” he said.
Duterte stressed that communist rebellion would not stop until lands are distributed.
He likewise noted that joining communist struggle over land reform was unnecessary under his watch, citing his commitment to distribute lands to farmers.
“Hindi na natin kailangan ang NPA. What for? ‘Yan man ang mga kampanya nila ibigay nila ang lupa sa tao. Kaya ko mang ibigay ‘yan. Ibinibigay ko na nga eh,” he said.
He added that he would dedicate the remaining three years of his administration to attaining lasting peace in Mindanao.
He then urged Maguindanaons to join the government in its efforts to maintain peace and order and to crush the terrorist group ISIS.
“Kasali kayo. You will have to fight the ISIS. They would create hell for us. We are not here talking to destroy the future and our family. We are here planning for what we can do to them so that by the time they are the father[s] and mothers of the community, they would know what to do and make it more comfortable for our children,” he said. ###PND
