PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III spearheaded the distribution of 26,285 Certificates of Condonation and Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) to 21,496 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Region 2 on November 22, 2024.
The initiative, conducted at the Doña Josefa T. Albano Gymnasium, condoned a total of PHP 1.164 billion in loans, offering relief to farmers across Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino provinces.
In his address, President Marcos assured farmers of the government’s unwavering support, particularly in the wake of recent typhoons that have impacted their livelihoods.
“Sa kabila ng sunod-sunod na kalamidad, hindi po namin nakakalimutan ang aming prayoridad na maiahon ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang ating mga magsasaka. Batid po namin na ang pagkakakutang ay isa sa nagbibigay sa inyo ng alalahanin at paghihirap. Kaya naman, narito kami na patuloy ang pagsuporta sa inyo,” Marcos said.
The initiative is part of the implementation of Republic Act No. 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), which Marcos signed into law on July 7, 2023.
The law condones all loans incurred by ARBs for land awarded under Presidential Decree No. 27, Republic Act No. 6657, and Republic Act No. 9700.
Nationwide, the law is expected to benefit around 610,054 farmers, erasing PHP 57.65 billion in agrarian arrears covering over 1.7 million hectares of land.
Loan Relief and Land Distribution Highlights
In Isabela, 25,773 CoCRoM certificates were distributed to 21,496 ARBs, covering 21,796 hectares of land and canceling PHP 1.152 billion in loans.
In Nueva Vizcaya, 182 certificates were given to 154 ARBs, condoning PHP 2.678 million in loans for 52.5 hectares of land.
In Quirino, 330 certificates were distributed to 314 ARBs, relieving them of PHP 9.388 million in loans across 325.65 hectares of land.
Additionally, Marcos distributed 1,170 Electronic Titles (E-titles) and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) and regular Land Acquisition and Distribution programs.
These titles covered 1,133 hectares and were awarded to 918 ARBs.
The initiative aims to uplift farmers, addressing one of their biggest challenges—debt—while securing their ownership of productive lands.