Iloilo: Over 1,286 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from Iloilo have been granted Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), absolving them of PHP91.5 million in debt from land amortizations under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The certificates covered 2,064 CoCRoMs across 1,378.2523 hectares of agricultural land distributed in Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Duenas, San Miguel, Leon, and Alimodian from April 23-25 and 28.
According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Harriet Loot explained that this group was the final batch of recipients with individual titles. Loot noted that the beneficiaries expressed relief at no longer having to worry about amortizations with LandBank, needing only to focus on real property tax. She also mentioned that there are remaining ARBs with collective Certificate of Land Ownership Awards who have yet to receive their CoCRoMs.
The debt relief initiative is supported by Republic Act No. 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 7, 2023. This legislation aims to free ARBs from unpaid amortization burdens, encouraging their contribution to national food security.
In a statement, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III emphasized the administration's expectation for ARBs to maximize their farm lots' productivity. Estrella highlighted that debt forgiveness from overdue amortizations pales in comparison to the ARBs' role in advancing the country's food self-sufficiency program.
