The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has wiped out PHP80.17 million in agrarian debt of farmers from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The condonation has provided relief to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who have carried financial burdens for nearly six decades, according to a press release issued by DAR on Wednesday.

The agency announced the issuance of 1,944 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgages (CoCRoM), which erased debts for 1,421 ARBs in the region.

DAR Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Castil Jr. urged the beneficiaries to maximize the potential of their lands for the benefit of their families and communities.

“The dreams of farmers are the dreams of this nation,” he said, echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s remarks on the vital role of farmers in national food security.

The debt condonation is part of the implementation of Republic Act No. 11953, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, signed by President Marcos last year.

The law condones loans, interest, penalties, and surcharges from lands awarded under previous agrarian reform laws.

In addition to the debt relief, DAR awarded 579 land titles covering 371.9 hectares to 515 ARBs across CAR and provided PHP90 million in support services, including farm-to-market roads and farm equipment, to improve productivity and market access. (PNA)