CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Some fifty-eight residents from the different barangays of Impasugong, Bukidnon were awarded ownership over the land they occupied for many years through the Handog Titulo Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The awarding was held during the Flag Raising Ceremony sponsored by the 8th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army at Impasugong, Bukidnon on Monday.
It was led by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Community Environment and Natural Resources, Manolo Fortich cluster and the local government unit.
As announced, the papers have been grounded in the office of the DENR before due to some lacking requirements, so the government assisted the owners in the completion until they are now ready for release.
Mayor Anthony Uy thanked the DENR and the 8th Infantry Battalion which sponsored the morning activity.
He underscored that “this small act from us may create a big impact on others, let us continue to serve our people by giving them our services to end these people responsible for country’s longest-running communist insurgency.”
Land problem was identified by the Philippine Army Community Support Program Teams as the main issue used and is using by the NPAs to organize the masses and revolt against the government. Giving solutions to this setback will somehow cut their recruitment.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, expressed his gratefulness to the measures done by the LGU and the DENR. “Being your partner in peace and development, we really appreciate your initiative, this is vital in ending the local communist insurgency because this is a strong matter that will trigger the masses to join the rebels if it is not addressed.”
He gave the assurance that under EO70, the Local Government Unit of Impasugong together with the Local and National Agencies will continue to serve the people of Impasugong by delivering basic services closer to them.
The Handog Titulo Program of the Government seeks to expedite the processing and issuance of public land patents to qualified beneficiaries.
It is an initiative to boost the distribution of land titles to fight poverty, and fuel progress and development.
Under the program, the free patent is made available to Filipinos who occupied a residential land for at least 10 years provided the land applied for is alienable and disposable.
The distribution of land titles is anchored on two government policies to give land to the landless: Proclamation 172 and RA 10023. (8IB)
