Cagayan Valley, Bicol farmers finally get to own lands
TUGUEGARAO CITY—The wait is finally over for some 11,000 farmers in Cagayan Valley and the Bicol regions who received land titles, condonation certificates, and farm support from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in separate distribution ceremonies this month, marking major gains in the government’s agrarian reform program.
“This is what I have long been waiting for,” said Nelson Sanchez, 63, of Pandan, Catanduanes, who received a certificate of land ownership award (Cloa) for the 1.6780-hectare land he had tilled for 29 years.
Melchor Lalaguna, 56, of Masbate City, said he waited 31 years for his electronic title for a 3-ha parcel, while Nelson Desunia, 73, of Sorsogon, finally secured ownership of a 0.92-ha farm after 32 years.
“This is the best gift this Christmas. We can now focus on our agricultural activities,” Desunia said.
The farmer-beneficiaries numbered 4,964 in Cagayan Valley and 6,126 in the Bicol region.
Bella Cabbab, head of the Concepcion Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Amulung, Cagayan province, said beneficiaries were hopeful for improved incomes next year, citing better prospects and the hope for fewer typhoons and other calamities.
Better to receive
In Cagayan Valley, the DAR awarded 1,032 land title certificates and emancipation patents to 900 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) during a ceremony at the Cagayan Sports Complex in Tuguegarao City on Monday.
The agency also distributed 2,706 electronic parcelization of lands for individual titling (SPLIT) titles to 2,720 ARBs and 1,706 certificates of condonation with release of mortgage (Cocroms) to 1,344 ARBs across the region.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III led the activity and also oversaw the distribution of farm machinery and equipment worth P45 million to farmers’ cooperatives, along with relief goods.
“It is better to give than to receive, especially this Christmas season, so we are here,” Estrella said, urging farmer-beneficiaries to care for their lands as a sustainable source of livelihood.
Cagayan Gov. Edgar Aglipay welcomed the distribution. “These titles are truly yours. Cultivate them, cherish them, and pass them on to your families,” he told the beneficiaries.
In Bicol, the DAR distributed 6,960 land titles and Cocroms on Dec. 11, condoning P248.8 million in unpaid land amortization and related obligations of ARBs.
The turnover, held at the Fuerte CamSur Sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur, was led by Estrella, DAR-Bicol Regional Director Reuben Theodore Sindac and Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr.
Accelerating
“We are not content if farmers are only given land titles and farm machinery. What the President wants is to free them from debts through the New Agrarian Emancipation Act,” Estrella said, adding that the DAR is accelerating the release of titles and aims to complete the process before the end of President Marcos’ term.
Sindac said that of the total distributed in Bicol, 3,497 land titles covering 5,929.36 hectares were awarded to 2,697 ARBs. Another 3,429 ARBs received Cocroms under Republic Act No. 11953.
The DAR also turned over certificates of registration to 34 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (Arbos) and farm machinery worth P7.9 million to six Arbos in Camarines Sur.
