Nearly 10,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Bicol Region received land titles and debt relief totaling more than PHP418 million on Tuesday, strengthening farmers’ ownership of agricultural lands and improving their livelihoods through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Speaking at the distribution ceremony at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Kazel Celeste said the government’s ongoing agrarian reform initiatives aim to empower farmers, who play an important role in ensuring the country’s food security.
“This is a big help in advancing our agricultural sector. The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country, which is why we continue providing various services to our farmers,” Celeste said.
She said the condonation of farmers’ unpaid land amortization is among the government’s most significant interventions.
“The removal of these debts is a huge relief because the money that would have been used to pay their loans can now be invested in developing and improving their farms,” she said.
DAR distributed 11,247 land titles and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) covering 15,533.92 hectares of agricultural land to 9,920 ARBs from the six Bicol provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.
The CoCRoMs erased PHP 418.2 million in unpaid agricultural amortization under the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, allowing beneficiaries to obtain full ownership of their awarded lands without outstanding financial obligations.
Celeste said the agency’s commitment goes beyond the distribution of land titles, emphasizing that support services continue after land ownership is secured.
“Once our agrarian reform beneficiaries receive their land titles, that is where our support services come in. Today, we distributed farm machinery and other equipment,” she said.
She noted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive has remained consistent since the start of his administration.
“His instruction to our Secretary has always been to never stop providing services to our agrarian reform beneficiaries and to always bring government closer to the people. That is why we continuously go around the country to deliver DAR services directly to our farmers,” she said.
Aside from the land title distribution, DAR also turned over three farm-to-market roads in the municipalities of Polangui, Libon and Oas in Albay, benefiting 1,243 ARBs and an estimated 11,000 residents.
The agency also distributed farm machinery and equipment to 51 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project to improve farm productivity and climate resilience.
Celeste assured farmers that the agency would continue extending assistance to the agricultural sector.
Among the beneficiaries was 89-year-old Felicita Espejo of Oas, Albay, who said she had waited two decades before finally receiving the title to her land.
“I waited for this for 20 years. I no longer expected that I would still receive a land title,” she said in Filipino.
Espejo said she previously planted corn and maintained coconut trees on her property, though many of the trees were damaged by typhoons. Now widowed, she is no longer able to cultivate the land as she once did.
“Thank you very much because what we have long been waiting for has finally come,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Nini Noceto Macasinag, 59, of Daraga, Albay, said she had waited about 15 years to receive her land title.
She recalled that they were required to make payments to the bank but were unable to keep up due to financial hardship.
“We are grateful because we finally received our certificate despite not being able to pay the bank due to poverty,” she said.
Macasinag grows cassava, corn, coconuts, vegetables, and bananas on her farm. (PNA)
