By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Department of Agrarian Reform-Western Visayas (DAR-6) awarded a total of 2,779 land titles to 2,143 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the region on Monday, December 11.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) and support services at the City of Passi Arena in Iloilo.
According to DAR-6, the land titles turned over cover approximately 2,903 hectares of agricultural land and were derived from its Support to Parcelization for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project.
Under the SPLIT project, collective CLOAs are being parceled or subdivided into individual land titles.
“The distribution of more than 2,900 hectares of land to over 2,000 beneficiaries here in Western Visayas today is in pursuit of agrarian reform in our country,” Marcos said.
Marcos this June signed Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act.
The signing of RA 11953 condoned the amortization of approximately P57.56 billion of unpaid principal debts of 610,054 ARBs cultivating 1.173 million hectares of land.
In addition to the distribution of land titles, DAR-6 distributed farm machinery, equipment, and organic fertilizers worth P26.7 million to selected ARB organizations in the provinces of Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo.
“Ang pag-deliver ng mga fertilizer, ng mga makinarya, mga facilities ay makakatulong upang makamtan natin ang ating hinahanap at ating pinapangarap na magandang kinabukasan para sa ating mga magsasaka, para sa ating mga sinasaka, at para sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” Marcos said.
The distribution of farm machinery and equipment is part of the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities project, a multi-faceted program aiming to increase agricultural productivity and income of ARBs through various mechanization projects and support.
Marcos emphasized that the distribution of these titles in the region and other areas in the country shows the government’s commitment to exceeding the nationwide target for land distribution in 2023.
The president further called on DAR to expedite the distribution of lands to ARBs and collaborate with other government agencies to support the needs of the beneficiaries.
“Let us all come together to empower our farmers, bring equity to our people, [and] raise the productivity of our lands. We will continue to pursue food security, economic prosperity for the present and succeeding generations,” Marcos said.
