The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will issue certificates of condonation with release of mortgage (COCROMs) to 13,822 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and distribute 7,798 land titles to 4,788 ARBs in Negros Island Region (NIR) in a ceremony today, Dec. 4, in Bago City.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, who will lead the distribution at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City, said that through the event, the department strengthens its commitment to delivering land justice, modernizing farm operations, and building resilient agrarian communities across the region.
“Aside from providing support to our ARBs, our employees will also receive essential relief packages to help them recover and regain stability after the calamity,” he said in a statement Dec. 3.
The COCROMs will be released to free ARBs from P1.79 billion in decades-old unpaid land debts.
Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, writes off all outstanding loans, including accrued interests, penalties, and surcharges, incurred by ARBs for lands awarded to them.
Of the land titles covering 5,524 hectares, 2,356 titles with 1,058.85 hectares will go to 1,203 ARBs under Negros Occidental I-North; 2,461 titles with 1,849.87 hectares to 1,573 ARBs under Negros Occidental II-South; and 2,981 titles with 2,615.68 hectares to 2,012 ARBs in Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, 71 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations, comprising nearly 4,200 ARBs, will receive P67.6 million worth of farm machinery, equipment, and agricultural inputs aimed at reducing production costs, supporting larger field operations, and improving yield stability.
Of the total amount, P56.128 million covers farm machinery and equipment, while P11.475 million is for farm inputs.
The assistance comprises HP tractors, cargo trucks, solar-powered irrigation pumps, mini-tractors, and 13,500 packs of organic fertilizer.
The DAR will also distribute P6 million in relief assistance to 5,913 individuals, including 5,675 ARBs and 238 DAR personnel affected by typhoons Tino and Uwan. | PNA
