To strengthen the rights and protect the welfare of more farmers in the country, the government will continue distributing farmlands in Central Visayas, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In his speech during the CLOA and land title distribution in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Monday, President Marcos said the government will provide lands not only to farmers in Central Visayas but to all farmers in the country.
Providing lands to landless farmers is a promise President Marcos made during the last presidential campaign.
The President said there are still a lot of farmlands to be distributed in Central Visayas and in the whole country.
During the occasion, the Chief Executive provided Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and land titles to nearly 4,000 farmers in Central Visayas.
He said 3,855 CLOAs and land titles covering around 2,867 hectares of land were distributed to farmers in Region 7.
“Alam naman po namin na marami po sa inyo ay matagal nang nangangarap at nagsisikap upang magkaroon ng sariling lupa para sa inyong hanapbuhay. Eto na po at tinutupad po natin ang pangarap ninyo,” President Marcos said.
“Ito po ay simbulo ng taus-pusong pasasalamat ng sambayanang Pilipino para sa inyong walang sawang pagsisikap at katatagan sa pagsasaka sa ilalim ng init ng araw, sa gitna ng masamang panahon, at sa harap ng maraming pagsubok,” he added.
The President said the distribution of CLOAs and land titles is in accordance with Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
President Marcos said the New Agrarian Emancipation Act will free Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from their debts. In Region 7, President Marcos said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has already provided 4,614 hectares of land this year.
The DAR has already distributed a total of 15,163 hectares of land to 9,549 ARBs nationwide. The figure is more than 65 percent of the annual target of 23,216 hectares of land to be distributed this year.
“Ito ay patunay ng ating patuloy at walang humpay na pagsisikap na tuparin ang aming pangako na kukumpletuhin namin ang repormang agrarian dito sa ating minamahal na Pilpinas,” the Chief Executive told thousands of ARBs.
Aside from distributing the CLOAs and land titles, President Marcos also distributed PhP17.5 million in agrarian equipment to around 3,268 beneficiaries in Central Visayas.
“Ang mekanisasyon, ang pagbibigay ng ating mga gamit, itong mga traktor, itong mga processing, dryer [at] kung anu-ano pang mga kailangan ng ating mga magsasaska. Ito ay makabagong irigasyon at patuloy pa rin [ang] [pag]papalawak ng irigasyon. Ang mga ito ay susi sa pagpapa-unlad ng ating mga sakahan. Mas mapabibilis po itong inyong mga gawain at mas mapapaunlad nito ang lupang inyong sinasaka,” President Marcos said. | PND