President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III distributed 4,724 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) covering 2,550 hectares to 2,797 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City, Negros Occidental.
President Marcos reiterated his commitment to tenurial security of farmers, calling it his favorite duty after decades of delay: “matagal masyado ang 33 taon, anim na administrasyon ang nakaraan bago natin naiibigay… Sa wakas, maibigay sa inyo ang inyong titulo para makapagsaka kayo ng mabuti,” he stated.
The President also announced plans to distribute an additional 11,000 titles to Negrense farmers this year, with more to follow nationwide.
Aside from the land titles, P59 million worth of support services were also distributed to nineteen (19) agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in the province, including farm-to-market road projects and farm machineries.
Reflecting on the whole-of-government approach of his administration, President Marcos emphasized that agrarian reform extends beyond land distribution and includes providing comprehensive support services to farmers which gives them broader opportunities for an improved quality of life.
He praised farmers as modern-day heroes driving economic growth and food security and affirmed his administration’s goal of inclusivity under the Bagong Pilipinas program.
“Sa ating pagtataguyod ng Bagong Pilipinas, layunin natin ang sabay-sabay na pag-unlad kung saan walang sinuman ang maiiwan sa pag-aasenso. Makaaasa kayo na kabalikat ninyo ako at ang buong pamahalaan sa lahat ng inyong pagsisikap.”