The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed 922 land titles and 2,630 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Oriental on Friday.

DAR Undersecretary Rowena Niña Taduran led the distribution activities together with Governor Manuel Sagarbarria and other national and local officials during the final day of a three-day rollout across Negros Island.

The agency awarded 922 land titles covering about 756.6 hectares to 556 ARBs, consisting of 30 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) covering more than 2.39 hectares for 30 beneficiaries and 892 electronic titles covering 754.212 hectares for 526 ARBs under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project.

DAR also distributed 2,630 COCROMs covering more than 5,854 hectares to 4,202 ARBs, resulting in the condonation of over PHP584.5 million in agrarian reform debts.

In her message, Taduran underscored the administration’s commitment to agrarian reform and highlighted Republic Act 11953, which condones unpaid amortizations, principal loans, and interests of ARBs and exempts agricultural lands awarded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program from estate taxes.

“The Certificates of Land Ownership Award, e-titles, and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage or COCROM are not just pieces of paper, but symbols of dignity, freedom and a fresh start,” Taduran said.

Aside from land-related documents, DAR turned over PHP7.9 million worth of support services to six agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations in the province.

Five farmers’ groups received four-wheel-drive tractors valued at PHP1.223 million each: Linothangan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association in Guihulngan City, Sampiniton Agrarian Reform Farmers and Beneficiaries Association in Jimalalud, Camansi Farmers Association in Tanjay City, Barangay San Antonio Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, and Jagna Nagbalaye Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Sta. Catalina.

The Bayawan City United Farmers Irrigators Association in received a combined rice harvester worth more than PHP1.24 million.

Mario Tapang, a member of the Jagna Nagbalaye Agrarian Reform Cooperative, expressed gratitude to the government for the debt condonation and farm equipment assistance.

Tapang said the condonation relieved beneficiaries from paying a portion of their income to settle agrarian reform obligations, allowing them to use their earnings instead for farm inputs and their children’s education. (PNA)