President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday encouraged agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to invest their savings for their future.

“Alam kong sa mga nakaraang taon, marami kayong naisakripisyo sa ngalan ng pag-unlad at pagginhawa. Kaya hinahangad ko — ng administrasyong ito, na ang inyong naipon na sana ay ipambabayad sa lupa, ay inyong ngayon magamit sa iba pang mga bagay na makatutulong sa inyong mga kinabukasan,” the President said in his speech at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gymnasium in Quezon City.

President Marcos led the distribution of a total of 1,119 Certificates of Condonation and Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) for 1,000 ARBs in different cities and municipalities in Bulacan.

The figure is equivalent to more than **PhP270 million in debt condoned.

The distribution of COCROMs is part of the implementation of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which frees ARBs from their debts.

During his speech, the President vowed that his administration will continue to respond to the needs of Filipinos.

“Makakaasa po kayo na narito ang buong pamahalaan upang umagapay sa inyo at tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng sambayanan,” President Marcos said.

“Magsilbi nawang hudyat ang araw na ito para sa inyong unang hakbang tungo sa kasaganahan,” he added. PND