The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) reported to the House of Representatives that more than 49,000 titles covering more than 43,000 hectares were distributed to beneficiary farmers in just the first six months of 2023.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III announced this during the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations for the requested P9.392.29 billion budget of the department for 2024, which is lower than its current fund of P15.850.2 billion.
This past January, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured that his administration would expedite the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries this year.
According to Estrella, in the administration’s first year, the DAR has distributed 71,360 titles covering 85,853 hectares of farmland for 68,427 beneficiary farmers.
Of that number, 49,484 titles covering 43,623 hectares were distributed to 43,623 beneficiaries from January to July 7, 2023.
Estella told the legislators that the “e-titles” under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project greatly help title distribution.
Under this project, the lands were divided under collective certificates of land ownership awards (CCLOAs) so that the beneficiary farmers have individual titles.
From January to July 2023, 33,654 e-titles covering 46,241 hectares were issued to 29,320 ARBs.
DAR expedites distribution of land titles to farmers
According to the secretary, DAR is set to distribute at least 30,000 titles to complete its target for 2023 to distribute a total of 80,000 titles to ARBs nationwide.
Estrella highlighted the new law Republic Act No. 11953 or the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act, which cancels all unpaid amortization or agrarian debts, including interest and penalties.
Under the said law, the government also undertakes the obligation of 10,201 ARBs on 11,531.24 hectares of land to pay the remaining balance of direct compensation due to land owners under Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT) or Direct Payment Scheme (DPS) amounting to P206,247,776.41.
Meanwhile, DA conveyed that attaining a rice price of P20 per kilo would hinge on market dynamics, even if the country attains its 95% rice sufficiency target.
DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian provided this response in a discussion with House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman of Basilan. Hataman had inquired whether the goal of achieving 95 to 97% self-sufficiency by the end of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028 would enable the possibility of a P20 per kilo rice price.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.