The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR CENRO)Belisondistributed19 free patents for agricultural lotsin line with the Handog Titulo Program of DENRWestern Visayas during the launch of the Central Antique Convergence Area held at the Valderrama Covered Court in Antiqueon November 08, 2019.

Of the 19 free patents, sevenrecipients were from Barangay Tigmamale, five from Buluangan I, four from Bunsod, and one from Buganayan, Cansilayan and Pandanan.

DENR Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr. emphasized that the Handog Titulo Program is a sustained effort of the Department that delivers full ownership of land titles to the rightful beneficiaries.

The distribution of the land patents was led Antique representative and former Senator Loren B. Legarda with Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.,DENR Region Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Livino B. Duran, ARD for Management Services Jesse L. Vego and Antique Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres T. Untal.

A total of 21.3985 hectares or 213,985 sq.m. of agricultural land within the Municipality of Valderrama was distributed.

The programis in line with the ten (10) priority programs of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu onImproved Land Administration and Management. It is an answer to poverty alleviation that aims to give absolute security of tenure to the patenteesandto spur socio-economic upliftment and development.