The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has granted debt relief amounting to PHP6.65 billion to 44,643 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and turned over PHP95.5 million in support services to various ARB organizations (ARBOs) in southern Negros Occidental on Thursday.
This is the second leg of DAR-Negros Island Region’s (NIR) three‑day distribution series dubbed “Padayon” (to continue or to carry on), after the distribution to ARBs in northern Negros Occidental in Cadiz City on Wednesday.
In a ceremony held at the Isabela Municipal Gymnasium, Undersecretary for Special Concerns Office and External Affairs Rowena Niña Taduran and DAR-NIR Director Lucrecia Taberna distributed 56,993 certificates of condonation with release of mortgage (COCROMs) to the identified ARBs.
“Wala na kayong utang, as in zero. Kaya pagyamanin niyo po ang pinagkaloob sa inyong titulo ng lupa. Dahil sa araw na ito ay PHP6.6 billion ang kinondone o binurang pagkakautang po ninyo. (You no longer have any debt – it is effectively zero. So, please cherish and make the most of the land titles awarded to you because today, PHP6.6 billion worth of your debt has been condoned or written off),” Taduran told the farmer-beneficiaries.
She, however, reminded them that such freedom from debts entails a great responsibility.
“Ngunit kasabay nga po ng kalayaang ito ay isang napakalaking pananagutan. Ang lupang ito ang inyong tunay na kayamanan, alagaan niyo po ito, pagyamanin ninyo ito, linangin ninyo ito ng may sipag, talion, at pagmamahal (This freedom comes with a tremendous responsibility. This land is your true wealth. Cherish it, enrich it, and cultivate it with diligence, wisdom, and love),” she added.
Under the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges, incurred by ARBs from lands awarded to them are condoned, and the national government will assume payment of unpaid compensation to the Land Bank of the Philippines.
A total of 489 land titles were awarded, composed of 258 certificates of land ownership award covering 251.96 hectares for 159 ARBs under new lands, as well as 231 electronic titles under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Project covering 164.01 hectares for 105 ARBs.
The DAR-NIR also turned over vital support services totaling PHP95.5 million to various ARBOs, comprising farm machinery and equipment, farm-to-market roads, and communal irrigation systems to further strengthen productivity and community livelihood.
Among these are the PHP24.87 million farm‑to‑market road in Barangay Cabacungan, La Castellana, the PHP25 million communal irrigation system in Barangay Alim, Hinoba-an, and the PHP41.79 million farm‑to‑market road in Ilog.
The distribution and turnover of land titles, condonation certificates, and support services were witnessed by Isabela Mayor Miguel Angelo Yulo and Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez with 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo and 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez. (PNA)
