Weeks before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has showcased significant advancements in genuine agrarian emancipation and rural upliftment, aligning with the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) vision.
During a recent land title distribution event in Mandaue City, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III announced the agency’s goal to complete the distribution of 400,000 land titles by the end of 2025, aiming to free more families from debt and enhance their contribution to the nation’s food security. “Maaaring sabihin nilang imposible ito, pero sa ating determinasyon at sa buong suporta ng Pangulo, makakamit natin ang layuning ito (They may say it’s impossible, but with our determination and the full support of the President, we can achieve this goal),” Estrella stated.
With President Marcos’s strong backing, thousands of farmers have already been liberated from decades-old debts and have secured their rights to the land they cultivate. In July 2023, President Marcos signed Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), which relieved over 610,000 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from PHP57.5 billion in unpaid land amortizations, covering 1.17 million hectares of farmland.
To facilitate this, Estrella mentioned that the DAR is expediting the issuance of land titles and the cancellation of land debts for all ARBs across the country. “Hindi pa ho kami kontento na mabura ang utang ninyo. Sasabihin natin, may lupa na kami ngayon, sarili na namin ang lupang ito, binura na ang aming utang kaya magkakaroon kami ng karagdagang kita (And we are not satisfied with just wiping out your debt. We want you to say, we now have land and this land is our own, our debt has been wiped out, and so we could now earn more),” he explained.
Decades of Debt Erased
In July alone, the DAR distributed 239 land titles covering 215.65 hectares to 159 ARBs in Bohol and granted 2,464 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to 1,741 ARBs, eliminating PHP50.42 million in unpaid amortizations for 2,092.60 hectares of farmland. In Cebu, 326 ARBs received 570 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and e-titles for 624.97 hectares, while 3,858 COCROMs were issued to 3,544 farmers, erasing PHP284.54 million in debts covering 5,170.02 hectares. In the Negros Island Region, the DAR issued 19,244 COCROMs, condoning PHP1.83 billion in ARB land debts for 8,860.15 hectares.
Individual Titles and Empowerment
In addition to debt relief, the DAR is fast-tracking its Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project, which converts collective CLOAs into individual titles to ensure clear ownership. As of June 30, the DAR-Bohol completed a four-day validation of landholdings, with three landholdings covering 104.6267 hectares validated and another 343 landholdings covering 613.1125 hectares lined up for validation this year. Estrella emphasized that by subdividing collective CLOAs and issuing individual titles, ARBs are empowered with legal and secure land rights. “With their own land, they can invest more, earn better, and improve their lives,” he stated.
Infrastructure and Support Services
To complement initiatives that secure tenure, the DAR has enhanced its support services to boost farm productivity. In Isabela, PHP50 million worth of three farm-to-market roads (FMRs) were turned over, including a PHP20-million Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) in Tumauini town to irrigate 31 hectares of rice land. In Abra, PHP3.6 million worth of farm machinery and livelihood tools were provided to eight agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs). Additionally, FMRs worth PHP500 million totaling 9.2 km were turned over in Polangui, Albay, while livelihood and skills training were offered to farmers in Zamboanga del Norte in partnership with various government agencies.
On Track to 400,000 Titles
As of May 2025, the DAR has distributed 203,765 land titles covering 248,022 hectares, benefiting nearly 198,200 ARBs. The agency is confident in achieving its target of 400,000 titles by the end of 2025. Estrella assured that under the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, no farmer would be left behind, with efforts to accelerate debt condonation, individual titling under SPLIT, and support for farm roads, irrigation, equipment, and training.
Estrella concluded that the DAR’s achievements are not just about providing ownership but also about equipping Filipino farmers with the means to build a dignified life.
