A total of 6,125 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Occidental province have been freed from debts amounting to P816.688 million under the Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office Jesry Palmares led the distribution of the certificates of condonation with release of mortgage (CoCRoM) to identified farmers in a ceremony held at the Cadiz Arena in Cadiz City.
“The President no longer wants you to worry about your obligations to the bank, and you can pass on your land titles to future generations. Take good care of the certificates that you now possess,” Palmares told the ARBs.
Signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in July 2023, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act condones all loans, including interests, penalties and surcharges, incurred by ARBs from lands awarded to them under Presidential Decree 27, Republic Act 6657 and Republic Act 9700.
Under the new law, the national government will assume payment of unpaid compensation, and the certificate granted to the farmer-beneficiary “shall automatically authorize the immediate and full release and discharge of any mortgage lien or encumbrance arising from agrarian debt.”
Sugarcane farmer Mario Flores Sr., 68, of Barangay Tortosa, Manapla, went up the stage to receive his CoCRoM from Palmares and other DAR officials in the presence of Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr.
“I am grateful to our beloved President. I don’t have to pay my debts anymore,” he said.
Flores, who has a condoned amount of P35,091, has been an ARB for more than 20 years.
Irene Morales, 52, of Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, was elated over the condonation of her husband’s land amortizations amounting to P124,040.
The mother of seven represented her husband, Sanny Morales, also a sugarcane farmer, during the distribution of the CoCRoM.
“I’m really thankful. We no longer have debts. We can now spend what we earn for the needs of our family,” she said.
Ricky Malunes, 53, of Barangay Canroma, Pontevedra, who owes the bank P5,175, said he is relieved that his agrarian debts have been condoned.
“Big thanks to the President for this,” Malunes said, adding that he is able to send his four children to school by tilling the land awarded to him under the CARP.
DAR figures showed the 6,125 farmer-beneficiaries in Negros Occidental received a total of 9,707 CoCRoMs, covering 6,143 hectares of agricultural land.
Under DAR Negros Occidental 1 (North), 1,428 ARBs received 2,409 certificates for condonation of their debts in 1,428 hectares, amounting to P291.676 million.
Some 4,697 ARBs were freed from debts in 4,930 hectares, amounting to P525.012 million under the DAR Negros Occidental 2 (South).
Aside from distributing the CoCRoMs, the DAR issued 4,348 e-titles to 2,220 ARBs covering 2,517 hectares under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project.
Also, 969 certificates of land ownership award were distributed to 682 ARBs for 418.86 hectares of agricultural land across Negros Occidental. (PNA)