In a significant move to support agrarian reform, over 5,200 farmers from Iloilo and Guimaras have been relieved of debts totaling PHP314.66 million. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conducted a ceremony at the Iloilo Sports Complex on December 21, 2024, where they distributed 7,039 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) covering 5,465.12 hectares of land. Undersecretary Jesry Palmares, who led the event, highlighted the extensive efforts over the past year to secure these documents, which are crucial for proving legitimate land ownership that can be passed down through generations. Additionally, 479 land titles for 473.97 hectares were awarded to 351 beneficiaries under the Newlands project, and 1,100 electronic titles for 879.98 hectares were given to 710 beneficiaries under the Support to Parcelization of Lands to Individual Titling project. Pura Barquila, a farmer from Barotac Nuevo, expressed her gratitude, noting that the debt relief would enable farmers to focus on improving their land rather than paying off loans. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. emphasized the vital role of these agrarian reform beneficiaries in bolstering the agricultural sector and the broader economy, and mentioned that government support would continue to be directed towards these communities, which also serve as centers for local agro-tourism initiatives.
