The long wait is over.
Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) Eliseo Tuscano, 73, of Matalam, Cotabato was all smiles as he finally received on Friday his land title through the land reform program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Lubos po ang aking tuwa at kagalakan dahil sa wakas ay natanggap na namin ang titulo ng aming lupa,” Tuscano told President Marcos and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III shortly after receiving his land title.
Tuscano said it took 25 years before he finally obtained his land title, which was only made possible through President Marcos who personally gave him the electronic title (e-title) for his land.
In his speech, Tuscano extended his gratitude to the Chief Executive for enacting into law the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, or the Republic Act No. 11953 in July last year. He also thanked DAR Secretary Estrella III for helping turn his dream of owning land into reality.
“Malaking tulong po ito at kaginhawaan sa aming mga magsasaka dahil binura na ang aming pagakakautang sa Land Bank of the Philippines. Sa loob ng 30 taon, agyaman kami, Apo President Marcos,” he said.
President Marcos signed in July 2023 the New Agrarian Emancipation Act for the benefit of around 610,054 Filipino farmers tilling more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands. The law makes the farmers debt-free from of agrarian arears worth PhP57.65 million.
Tuscano told the President the government’s efforts to help farmers will not go to waste.
“Makaasa po kayo na ang bunga ng inyong pagsisikap na kami ay mahatiran ng kaukulang serbisyo ay susuklian namin ng ibayong pagsusumikap,” Tuscano told the President.
“Bilang mga ARB gagawin po namin ang lahat upang mapagyaman at mapangalagaan ang lupang inyong ibinahagi sa amin. Maraming, maraming salamat po at nawa’y pagpalain tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos,” he added.
Another ARB, Nelson Ellano, 57, of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, also received his land title on Friday after 28 years of waiting. He was with Nicolas Soliman, 77, of Malungon, Sarangani who waited for 22 years to get his land title.
President Marcos said he was happy to personally distribute the land titles to ARBs. He said the government will always prioritize the welfare of farmers as envisioned under a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, uunahin po natin ang kapakanan ng mga magsasaka at papalayain natin sila sa sistemang nagpapahirap [ng] kanilang kalagayan,” the Chief Executive told thousands of ARBs in Koronadal City.
He hoped the distributed land titles would help uplift farmers’ lives and eventually fulfill their dreams for their family and country.
“Nawa’y magbigay ito ng kapanatagan sa inyong kabuhayan habang itinataguyod ninyo ang seguridad sa pagkain ng buong bansa,” the President said.
On the sidelines of the land title distribution, President Marcos said he will not stop until all land titles are distributed to ARBs. |PND
