The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed 1,136 land titles covering 1,741.43 hectares to 1,052 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Bicol Region, strengthening farmers’ land tenure security and supporting agricultural productivity.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, who led the distribution during the 2026 Stakeholders’ Engagement: Regionwide Land Title Distribution and Short Film Advocacy Awards on Tuesday, said the agency had already distributed land titles to nearly two million beneficiaries nationwide, with hundreds of thousands more expected to receive theirs.

“We have already reached almost two million beneficiaries, and there are still around 500,000 who will receive their titles. This year, we expect to complete more than 400,000, and we will finish the remaining number next year,” he said.

He assured beneficiaries that the distribution would continue as DAR visits more provinces to award land titles to qualified farmers.

“The distribution will continue. In fact, we will be visiting different provinces to distribute more land titles,” he said.

“It is very important because when the land becomes theirs, they will really cultivate it. Before, they did not know what would happen to them. Now that they hold the title, they know what lies ahead, and they themselves will plant and cultivate the land,” he said.

He said land titles not only provide security to farmers but also establish the legitimate owners of agricultural properties, enabling local governments to collect real property taxes and generate additional revenue.

He also outlined the assistance provided under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., including the condonation of agrarian reform debts and the delivery of agricultural support services.

Estrella said the government’s support extends beyond land distribution to infrastructure, farm equipment, and assistance for farmers’ families.

“They are given land, and there are also farm-to-market roads, farm machinery and equipment, financial loans, and even scholarships for the children of farmers,” he said.

The land titles distributed in Bicol include Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and electronic titles (e-titles) issued under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), including those covered by the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.

The distribution covered six provinces: Albay, with 87 titles for 66 ARBs; Camarines Norte, with 89 titles for 85 ARBs; Camarines Sur I and II recorded a total of 849 land titles distributed to 790 ARBs; Catanduanes, with 13 titles for 13 ARBs; Masbate, with 73 titles for 73 ARBs; and Sorsogon, with 25 titles for 25 ARBs.

Delia Estravez, 79, of Calabagas, San Vicente, Camarines Norte, thanked the government after finally receiving the land title she had long hoped for through DAR.

She said her family had long dreamed of owning the land and that receiving the title inspired them to work harder to plant and cultivate it.

Estravez also thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for helping make their dream of owning land a reality. (PNA)