Following the distribution of land titles in the Davao region last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to complete the distribution of land titles under the Land Reform Program before the end of his term in 2028 as he distributed 3,184 land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Caraga region on Friday.
In his speech during the distribution of land titles in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, President Marcos said that the government has already gone a long way in the distribution of land titles, but said more have to be done as there are still ARBs who have yet to receive their titles.
“Bagama’t maituturing natin itong tagumpay, hindi pa tapos ang ating laban,” President Marcos told over 3,000 ARBs from Agusan Del Sur, and in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
“Layunin kong matapos ang pamamahagi ng lupang saklaw ng Agrarian Reform Program bago matapos ang aking termino. At ang 3,184 na titulo na ipapamahagi natin sa araw na ito ay patunay ng kanilang patuloy na pagsisikap,” he added.
President Marcos said that the distribution of land titles is part of the government’s unwavering commitment to free farmers from hunger, poverty, and debt to improve their lives as he stressed that farmers must be “unshackled from debt, freed from high inputs, and relieved of constraints that impoverish them.”
As part of his commitment to complete the land distribution before 2028, the President issued in September 2022 Executive Order No. 4, which imposed a one-year moratorium on the payment of amortizations and interest on agrarian debt.
“Ngunit ayoko ng Band Aid na solusyon. Ang hanap ko ay permanenteng lunas,” the President said as he reiterated that he signed Republic Act 11953, or New Agrarian Emancipation Act in July last year that freed 600,000 ARBs from debt.
“Hangga’t baon sa utang ang ating magsasaka, hangga’t nakasangla ang kanilang kinabukasan, hindi makakaahon ang buong bansa,” President Marcos stressed.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has awarded land titles covering 109,199 hectares of land nationwide, benefitting 98,203 ARBs from July 2022 to December 2023.
The DAR Caraga also aims to distribute 10,659 hectares of land in the region to 5,743 ARBs.
Aside from the distribution of land titles, President Marcos also led the ceremonial turn-over of land farm machineries and Equipment (FMEs) and the ribbon cutting of the farm-to-market roads (FMRs) markers in Agusan Del Sur.
The President also turned over worth P8.91 million of farm machineries and equipment to 1,681 ARBs.
Before concluding his speech, the chief executive urged the Filipino people to support the government’s efforts in helping farmers grow, prosper, and achieve the “Bagong Pilipinas” they deserve.
“Tama lang na suklian ang kanilang pagod at sabayan ang kanilang pagsisikap ng tulong ng pamahalaan…together we can overcome all of these challenges. Sama-sama, nagkakaisa tungo sa isang Bagong Pilipinas,” President Marcos said.
The President visited Agusan del Sur on Friday to personally oversee the effects of trough of the low-pressure area, which caused heavy rains in Mindanao from January 29 to February 3, resulting in massive flooding and landslide incidents. PND
