The Department of Agrarian Reform in Cebu province over the weekend conducted an environmental and social assessment consultation with the affected agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province in connection with the implementation of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling or Project SPLIT.
DAR Central Visayas Regional Director Leomides Villareal said the environment and social assessment focused on assessing and identifying Project SPLIT’s possible environmental and social risks.
Community consultation activity was conducted with the ARBs living in Camugao, Pinamungajan, Canlumampao, Toledo, and Balao, Barili, Cebu.
The ARBs were interviewed on the potential impacts on social, environmental, and labor-related risks due to the splitting of their collective certificates of land ownership award for them to have individual land titles and strengthen their property rights.
“We want to know through these consultations what the farmers are presently experiencing on their farms and their thoughts on these matters so we can prepare an action plan to address these issues,” Villarel said.
During the consultation, the farmers were re-oriented on what Project SPLIT is all about. The DAR-Cebu officials also explained the basic laws, rules, and procedures before they can have their individual land titles.
Project SPLIT is one of the DAR’s major programs being implemented nationwide. It aims to improve the security of tenure and strengthen the property rights of the ARBs by subdividing previously issued CCLOAs by the agency into individual land titles.