DESPITE the rainy weather, a total of 6,262 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Guimaras and Iloilo gathered at the Iloilo Sports Complex, La Paz, Iloilo City, on December 21, 2024, to receive Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), and Electronic Land Titles (E-Titles) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
One of the recipients, Pura Barquilla from Iloilo, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity given to farmers to become landowners.
“Malaki po ang pasasalamat ko kay Secretary Estrella at kay Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos dahil ibinigay ang lupa nang libre para sa amin. Masaya po kaming lahat, at pagyayamanin namin ang lupa para makatulong sa aming pamilya. Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataong ito,” she shared.
The distribution was led by DAR Undersecretary for Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) Jesry Palmares, alongside Assistant Secretary for Finance, Management, and Administration Office (FMAO) Atty. Quintin Magsico Jr., OIC-Regional Director for Negros Island Region (NIR) Lucrecia Taberna, and Regional Director of Region VI Leomides Villareal.
“Kami ay labis na nagagalak na makasama kayo sa mahalagang araw na ito. Ang mga CoCROM at titulo na matatanggap ninyo ay pamana para sa inyong mga anak at susunod na henerasyon. Malinaw na wala na kayong utang sa Landbank of the Philippines,” Palmares said, addressing the ARBs.
Breakdown of Distribution
The event marked the distribution of various certificates and titles to the ARBs:
- Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs):
Total agrarian debts condoned: PHP 314,661,860.29
Beneficiaries: 5,201 ARBs
Iloilo: 6,024 CoCRoMs distributed to 4,472 ARBs, condoning PHP 274,622,168.08 in debts.
Guimaras: 1,015 CoCRoMs distributed to 729 ARBs, condoning PHP 40,039,692.21 in debts.
This is in line with Republic Act No. 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 7, 2023, which forgives all agrarian debts, including amortizations, interests, penalties, and surcharges.
- Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs):
Issued: 479 CLOAs
Coverage: 473.97 hectares of land
Recipients: 351 ARBs
- Electronic Land Titles (E-Titles):
Issued under SPLIT Project: 1,100 E-Titles
Coverage: 879.98 hectares
Recipients: 710 ARBs
The event underscores DAR’s commitment to empowering Filipino farmers by providing them with the tools and resources to achieve land ownership, financial freedom, and sustainable livelihoods.