In a significant move to combat hunger and poverty, the Marcos administration has distributed 194,111 land titles to farmers across the Philippines, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. spearheaded the initiative, which saw the distribution of these titles to 186,290 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) over the past two and a half years, covering a total of 229,546 hectares of farmland.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III highlighted the monumental increase in land title distribution, noting a 1,100-percent surge compared to the previous administration’s last semester, where only 17,640 titles were distributed. Estrella emphasized that this surge is a crucial step in the government’s fight against poverty, as it empowers more farmers to cultivate their lands, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and accelerating rural development.
The distribution efforts have been consistent and progressive. In the initial months of Marcos’ term, there was a 24-percent increase in land titles handed out. This was followed by a 296-percent increase in 2023, and a record-breaking 480-percent increase in 2024, showcasing the administration’s commitment to agrarian reform.
Under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project, DAR distributed 132,393 electronic titles covering 170,718 hectares to 124,651 ARBs. Additionally, 61,718 new emancipation patents and Certificates of Land Ownership Award were distributed under the Regular Land Acquisition and Distribution program, covering 58,828 hectares to 61,639 ARBs.
Estrella reiterated that empowering more ARBs to till their lands is not only about increasing agricultural output but also about fostering sustainable rural development. This initiative marks a significant stride in the Marcos administration’s ongoing efforts to uplift the lives of Filipino farmers and combat poverty at its roots.