ISABELA, Negros Occidental – Department of Agrarian Reform officials, amid threats of lawsuits against them, finally installed 68 farmer beneficiaries in Hacienda Bacan here yesterday morning after a 10-year wait.

The listed owner of Hacienda Bacan is Rivulet Agro Industrial Corp., but many of the farmer-beneficiaries believe its real owners before the transfer of the land to them were Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) and his brother, former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

The farm covers 157.2882 hectares, 148.2219 has. of which were subjected to CARP, from which beneficiaries will get about 2.9 hectares each.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has allocated P78,294,000 for the supplemental feeding program of Negros Occidental in 2011.

Joel Galicia, assistant regional director, said at the convergence forum of DSWD core programs at L’Sea, Bacolod City yesterday that DSWD has distributed cooking and eating utensils to all 1,668 day care centers in the province that has 65,245 preschool children. He also said the National Food Authority is ready to release rice for the feeding.

Local government units have received funds from DSWD for the purchase of other commodities, he said.

The Department of Health reported yesterday a drop of 42 percent in dengue cases in the Western Visayas, although it has recorded 15 deaths as of this month.

DOH recorded 1,087 dengue cases from January to June 4 in Region 6, compared to 2,078 in the same period of last year.

Negros Occidental topped the list of dengue cases with 489, and 189 cases in Bacolod City.

DOH regional director Ariel Valencia, however, said he noted a drop of 26 percent of dengue in Negros Occidental, compared to last year.