The event, held at the Cabagan
Coliseum, gathered hundreds of farmer-beneficiaries, local officials, and
national agency representatives to witness a significant milestone in the
Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) efforts under the Marcos administration.
The ceremony was part of the broader initiative under the New Agrarian
Emancipation Act (RA 11953) signed into law by President Marcos in July 2023,
which aims to condone the debt of farmers and provide them with full land
ownership.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R.
Marcos Jr. and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado M.
Estrella III led the distribution of 26,285 Certificates of Condonation and
Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) to 21,496 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)
condoning a total of P1.164 billion in loans from the provinces of Isabela,
Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino of Region 2, on November 22, 2024, at Doña Josefa T.
Albano Gymnasium, Centro, Cabagan, Isabela.
President Marcos also assured the
farmers of the government’s continuous support especially those who have been
struck by the recent series of typhoons.
Significance of the CoCRoM and CLOA Distribution
The CoCRoM and CLOA documents
serve as legal instruments that formalize the transfer of agricultural land to
qualified beneficiaries. The CoCRoM, in particular, addresses long-standing
land issues from the Martial Law period, effectively correcting historical
injustices by reaffirming rightful ownership. Meanwhile, CLOAs are awarded to
ARBs to affirm their legal right to till and manage parcels of land as
productive stewards.
During the event, the President
likewise distributed a total of 1,170 Electronic Titles (E-titles) under the
Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) and
Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) under the regular (Land Acquisition
and Distribution) program to 918 ARBs covering a total of 1,133.4261 hectares
of land.
President Marcos Jr.'s Message to the Farmers
In his speech, President Marcos
emphasized the central role of farmers in national development and food
security. He stated: “Ang araw na ito ay patunay ng ating pangakong
pagbibigay-lakas sa ating mga magsasaka. Hindi lamang ito simpleng
dokumento—ito ay simbolo ng inyong pagmamay-ari at karapatan sa lupang inyong
sinasaka.” (“Today marks the fulfillment of our promise to empower our farmers.
These are not just documents—they are symbols of your ownership and right to
the land you cultivate.”)
President Marcos also reiterated
his administration’s drive to improve agricultural productivity, reduce rural
poverty, and strengthen farmer support services such as irrigation,
farm-to-market roads, mechanization, and access to credit and training.
Support from the Department of Agrarian Reform
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III joined the President in distributing the documents and highlighted the department’s accelerated processing of land titles and implementation of support programs to ensure the success of ARBs. He acknowledged the decades-long struggle of many farmers and stressed the importance of providing them not only with land but also with the tools and knowledge to improve their livelihoods.
Local Government and Community Response
Isabela Governor Rodito Albano
III and Cabagan Mayor Christopher Mamauag expressed their gratitude for the
President’s visit and for choosing Isabela as a site for the continuing rollout
of agrarian reform initiatives. Local leaders committed to aligning municipal
resources to support ARBs through cooperative development, agro-industrial
initiatives, and agricultural training.
Farmers present at the event
expressed emotional gratitude, with many sharing stories of their long wait for
land ownership and how these certificates would change the course of their
families’ futures.
The CoCRoM and CLOA distribution
in Cabagan marks a powerful statement: that land reform is not merely a policy,
but a moral imperative. Through direct engagement with farmer communities and
swift implementation of legal land transfers, the government is laying the
groundwork for a more inclusive and productive agricultural sector in the
Philippines.
The President's presence in
Isabela further cements his commitment to ensuring that the fruits of agrarian
reform reach even the most rural corners of the nation, promising not just
land, but also dignity, opportunity, and hope.
READ eBook/flipbook version: PBBM distributes 26,285 Certificates of Condonation 1,170 CLOAs to farmers
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