LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday led the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage to 3,558 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) here.
Of the total number of beneficiaries, 3,161 are from Pangasinan, 246 from Ilocos Norte, 34 from Ilocos Sur, and 117 from La Union.
Marcos said the certificates are symbols of the fulfillment of the promise he made to erase the debts of the ARBs in the Ilocos Region.
He said over PHP50 million worth of agri debt by the ARBs were condoned.
"Ang pamamahagi ngayong araw ng mga condonation na ito ay isang mahalagang hakbang pasulong sa ating paglalakbay tungo sa hustisyang agraryo (Distribution of the condonation certificates today is an important step in our journey towards agrarian justice)," he said.
Marcos also assured the ARBs of the continued support from the government.
"Magtulungan tayo upang bumuo ng matatag na kinabukasan kung saan ang bawat magsasaka, mangingisda, at pamilyang Pilipino ay may kakayahang bumangon mula sa kahirapan at mapa-unlad ang kanilang buhay (Let us help one another to form a strong future where every farmer, fisherfolk and Filipino families have the capacity to rise from poverty and improve their lives)," he said.
Marcos said over 70,000 condonation certificates will also be distributed soon in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, worth over PHP3 billion in debts.
The distribution of the certificates is part of Republic Act No. 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA).
The law condones all unpaid outstanding loans, amortizations, interests, penalties, and surcharges associated with the allocation of agricultural lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
ARBs need to process their documents to get the certification.
“NAEA represents the most significant agrarian reform legislation enacted during President Marcos Jr.’s administration,” Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III said.
DAR-Ilocos Director Maria Ana Francisco, in a statement, said NAEA also covers the responsibility of settling the remaining debts owed to landowners for beneficiaries who received lands through the voluntary land transfer and direct payment schemes.
She said the legislation not only provides land free-of-charge to landless farmers but also guarantees strategic support services to enhance farm productivity, higher income and improved quality of life.
"Masayang masaya ako dahil wala na akong utang at malinis na ang aking titulo (I am so happy because I no longer have liabilities and my land title is now cleared),” Ramon Zaratan, 67, an ARB from Barangay Portic in Bugallon town, said.
Another ARB, Beatriz Rolluda, said it took them a while to pay off their debts.
“We are almost finished in paying the debt but now the remaining amount was condoned. For that, I am grateful," she said in Filipino.
President Marcos also issued Executive Order No. 40, Series of 2023, which imposes a moratorium on land grant amortization payments for ARBs until 2028, covering those who received land after the passage of the NAEA. (PNA)
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