San juan city: The Department of Agrarian Reform is targeting the distribution of between 300,000 and 400,000 land titles to farmers by the end of 2025, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has committed to accelerating agrarian reform during the remaining years of his term.
According to Philippines News Agency, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III stated at the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) conference that this ambitious target is within reach as the agency responds to the President's directive to expedite government services. Estrella noted that many farmers have been waiting for as long as 30 years to receive land titles, and the DAR is committed to fulfilling this long-standing promise.
During his fourth SONA, President Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to ongoing land title distribution and the cancellation of unpaid loans and mortgages for Filipino farmers. He emphasized that the land farmers cultivate will soon legally belong to them, as the DAR focuses on distributing Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA), e-Titles, and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgages (COCROM).
Estrella highlighted the progress made under the Marcos administration, with the DAR distributing over 26,000 land titles in the first six months alone, matching the previous administration's performance. The number of distributions doubled to more than 50,000 in 2023, and by 2024, it had exceeded 100,000.
In addition to land distribution, the DAR is also issuing COCROMs under Republic Act 11953, known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which forgives all unpaid amortization of awarded lands. Estrella noted that this is one of the administration's significant accomplishments, addressing farmers' financial burdens due to rising fertilizer costs and climate change impacts.
Beyond these efforts, the DAR is providing additional support to farmers and agrarian reform communities, including farm-to-market road construction, irrigation projects, and the distribution of farm machinery and equipment. A recent irrigation project, in collaboration with the National Irrigation Administration, aims to benefit over 12,000 hectares of farmland, enhancing water supply and boosting agricultural output.
Estrella assured the DAR's commitment to the Marcos administration's Bagong Pilipinas vision, working with various departments to improve the lives and livelihoods of farmers. He emphasized the collective effort to enhance the well-being of agrarian reform beneficiaries and all Filipino citizens.
