A total of 6,000 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Nueva Ecija are now free from the mortgages on the land awarded to them by the government.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to ARBs in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, on Friday.
“Simula ngayon, magbabago ang buhay ng anim na libong magsasaka dito sa inyong lugar,” the President said.
Under the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, the government, led by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), distributed 9,832 COCROMs, translating to PhP276.7 million worth of condoned debts, covering an equivalent land area of 10,445.19 hectares.
President Marcos said relieving the farmers from these loans would help them recover from the damages they incurred during the onslaught of recent disasters that hit the province.
“Sa tulong nito, maiibsan ang bigat ng inyong mga pasanin at magkakaroon ang lahat [ng] pagkakataong makabangon at makapagsimulang muli,” he said.
The distribution is part of DAR’s series of efforts to turn over COCROMs to farmer beneficiaries across the country.
There are still an additional 4,640 ARBs in Nueva Ecija who will receive the same certificates, which are expected to be given by October this year.
This brings the total condoned debt for the ARBs in the province to Php511 million.
“Kami po’y naniniwala na sa pagwawalang bisa ng pagkaka-utang na ito ay giginhawa ang buhay ng ating mga benepisyaryo,” President Marcos said.
“Hindi na kayo mangangamba sa pambayad sa amortisasyon. Hindi na kayo matatakot na mawala pa ang lupang pinagkukunan ninyo ng pantustos sa araw-araw. Maaari nyo nang gamitin ang perang ipanghuhulog nyo sa lupa para sa inyong mga pangangailangan,” he added.
President Marcos also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promote the rights, welfare, and productivity of the agriculture sector.
In Central Luzon, Nueva Ecija has the largest number of ARBs and the biggest number of ARBs benefiting from Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
According to DAR, there are a total of 13,241 ARBs in the province that will benefit from the measure. PND
