Over 5,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Oriental received financial relief in 2024, as the Philippine government condoned more than PHP692 million in loan debts under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Manuel Galon, provincial agrarian reform officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Negros Oriental, announced Saturday that 6,612 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgages (CoCRoM) were distributed to 5,321 ARBs since July, covering 7,605.83 hectares of agricultural land.

DAR-Negros Oriental is targeting 40,000 hectares of agricultural land to be covered by the CoCRoM project next year, he said.

“The release of the CoCRoM is according to the land title and not necessarily per ARB, as some beneficiaries may be holding two or more CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Awards),” Galon explained.

The loan condonation is part of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (Republic Act No. 11953), which writes off principal loans, unpaid amortizations, and interest incurred by ARBs under government land reform programs.

Galon said the program would help farmers become more productive and appreciate the value of the land granted to them by the government.

Several farmers, burdened by debt, have abandoned, leased or sold their lands, but are now returning after learning about the loan condonation.

However, Galon said ARBs must meet certain requirements to qualify for CoCRoM.

DAR-Negros Oriental achieved other milestones in 2024, including the distribution of 4,869 e-titles under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, benefiting 2,961 ARBs.

Funded by the World Bank, SPLIT subdivides collective CLOAs into individual titles, targeting an additional 33,710 hectares by 2027.

Additionally, DAR awarded 153 CLOAs to 331 ARBs, covering 64.87 hectares.

Notably, 93 former rebels (FRs) of the New People’s Army received individual CLOAs for 23.42 hectares through Executive Order No. 75.

The FRs will also benefit from the first socialized housing project in Basay town, featuring individual housing units and a communal farm, a collaboration among the provincial government, local authorities, and the private sector.

As of December, DAR-Negros Oriental had registered over 6,730 e-titles with the Registry of Deeds, with 7,406 already released. (PNA)