President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured farmers that the government’s ongoing flood control projects are designed to withstand the impact of climate change, especially on the agriculture sector.
Marcos gave the assurance during the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgages (CoCRoMs) in Alabel, Sarangani, as he noted that the flood mitigation structures being built at Bagacay Creek in Alabel and Badtasan River Flood Control in Kiamba in Sarangani province will soon be completed.
“Tunay ngang napakaganda ng Sarangani, mula sa inyong mga likas na yaman hanggang sa inyong masaganang agrikultura. Patuloy pa natin itong iniingatan at pinapatatag dahil napapadalas ang bagyo sa ating bansa bunsod nang tinatawag na climate change o pagbabago ng ating klima (Sarangani is truly beautiful, from your natural resources to your abundant agriculture. We continue to preserve and strengthen it because typhoons are becoming more frequent in our country due to what we call climate change),” he said.
“Sana makatulong po ito para maiwasan natin ang matitinding pagbaha at pagkasira ng ating mga pananim (I hope this will help us prevent severe flooding and damage to our crops),” Marcos added.
During the event, Marcos led the distribution of 1,251 CLOAs and 13,527 CoCRoMs to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Soccsksargen.
The CLOAs were awarded to 1,252 ARBs covering 2,174.52 hectares in Sarangani province.
On the other hand, the CoCRoMs relieved around 11,699 ARBs of their debt amounting to PHP939,105,338 and covering a total land area of 21,098.65 hectares.
Marcos reiterated his vow to continue the legacy of his father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., on land reforms, saying he would make sure that the distribution of land certificates will be completed within his six-year term.
“Hanggang ngayon ay nakikita natin ‘yung record ay hindi pa natatapos. Nakakahiya ito. Magagalit sa atin ang ating mga ninuno kung hindi natin tapusin ito. Kaya pilit namin na matapos na maibigay lahat ng mga CLOA sa lahat ng mga agrarian reform beneficiary bago po kami umalis sa aming mga opisina (Until now, we see that the record is not yet completed. This is embarassing. Our ancestors will be angry with us if we do not finish it. That is why we are trying to finish distributing all the CLOAs to all agrarian reform beneficiaries before we leave our office),” he said.
Marcos said he would continue pushing for reforms to make sure that the “New Philippines” has a “better future, stable agriculture, and more robust economy.”
Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act covers the PHP57.56 billion in agrarian arrears, benefiting 610,054 ARBs who are tilling a total of 1,173,101.57 hectares of awarded land. (PNA)
