A TOTAL of P1.834 billion worth of land amortization debt has been condoned for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Island Region (NIR).
This relief covers 8,860.15 hectares of land and was formalized through the distribution of 19,244 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM), freeing 11,179 ARBs from decades of agrarian debts at Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City on Thursday, July 3.
The distribution of COCROM was led by Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III along with 4th District Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and Bago City Mayor Mayette Javellana.
The event included the turnover of land titles generated under the New Lands Program and the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (Project Split).
Estrella said it's their commitment to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to expedite land distribution and improve the living conditions of ARBs.
"To ensure the success of ARBs, we also distributed P5.6 million worth of support services to ten agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (Arbos) in Negros Occidental," Estrella said.
He added that these include farm machinery and equipment (FMEs) and construction materials for Muscovado sugar processing centers.
Estrella also emphasized the importance of Project Split and the New Lands Program, which transform collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CCLOAs) into individual titles, thereby strengthening property rights and securing the future of Filipino farmers.
Nelson Agotmo, 65, a sugarcane farmer and one of the beneficiaries, said he is grateful to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. after his P6.9 million land amortization for 11,467 square meters was fully condoned.
"I don’t have to pay my debts anymore," Agotmo said.
Agotmo, a resident of Barangay San Miguel, has been an ARB for 30 years. He has a condoned amount of P6,934,376.15, with an area of 11,467 square meter.
Also awarded during the event were 6,923 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (Cloas) under the New Lands Program and Project Split, covering a total of 4,683.84 hectares and benefitting 3,784 ARBs in Negros Occidental 1 & 2 and Negros Oriental.
Under the New Lands Program, 1,681 Cloas covering 1,032.21 hectares were distributed to 1,059 ARB, and under Project SPLIT, 4,071 electronic titles (e-titles) covering 3,651.48 hectares were distributed to 2,039 ARBs. (MAP)