Roxas City, Capiz – A total of 5,036 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from 17 municipalities in Capiz were officially awarded Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), and Electronic Titles (E-Titles) through the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.
The distribution ceremony was held on November 28, 2024, at the Capiz Gymnasium, Villareal Stadium in Roxas City.
The event was led by Senator Imee Marcos, along with DAR Assistant Secretaries Rodolfo Castil Jr. and Atty. Quintin Magsico Jr., Region 6 Director Leomides Villareal, and Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.
In her speech, Senator Marcos delivered uplifting news to Capiz farmers:
“Ang ating magandang balita, sa wakas, mamimigay na tayo. Libreng-libre. Wala nang utang. Zero balance sa tanan. Limpyo. Libre na ang titulo sa inyo na 100%.”
She also emphasized how her late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., envisioned empowering Filipino farmers, noting the event as a realization of his enduring legacy:
“At last, ito ang handog natin sa DAR, handog ng pamahalaan. Parati nating kinakanta ang National Anthem—Lupang Hinirang. Pero sa katotohanan, 51 taon na itong Lupang Hinarang. Ngayon, dito sa Capiz, tunay na Lupang Hinirang—may lupa na ang bawat Pilipino.”
The distribution of CoCRoMs complies with Republic Act No. 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 7, 2023.
This law condones all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges, incurred by ARBs for lands awarded under Presidential Decree No. 27, Republic Act No. 6657, and Republic Act No. 9700.
During the event, Senator Marcos and DAR officials distributed a total of 7,962 certificates and land titles covering 5,584.8932 hectares to 5,036 ARBs across Capiz.
CoCRoMs: 7,455 certificates were awarded to 4,630 ARBs, covering a total of 5,013.5764 hectares.
CLOAs: 66 certificates, equivalent to 34.383 hectares, were distributed to 61 ARBs in four municipalities.
E-Titles under SPLIT: 441 titles were awarded to 345 ARBs, covering 536.9338 hectares across 11 municipalities.
This monumental event marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to emancipate farmers from agrarian debts and ensure secure land ownership, empowering them to achieve greater agricultural productivity and prosperity.