Marcos to DAR: Speed up land distribution to farmers

Noting that his administration set to exceed its nationwide target for land distribution this year, President Marcos on Monday, Dec. 11, directed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to speed up the process of distributing land titles to their owners under the government’s agrarian reform program.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. delivers his speech at the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Passi, Iloilo on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)

Speaking during the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Western Visayas held in Passi, Iloilo, the Chief Executive also called on key government agencies to extend support to farmer-beneficiaries so they can maximize the opportunities of their newly acquired lands.

“Para ituloy ang ating mga nagawa na dito sa (To continue what we have done here in) agrarian reform, I ask the DAR to complete the distribution of lands to their deserving owners while collaborating with all the agencies of government to support our beneficiaries in anything that they might need,” he said.

“So, to those who will be receiving their titles today— who have received their titles today, I urge you na pagbutihan ninyo at pagsamantalahan ninyo ng mabuti itong magandang pagkakataon na naibigay namin sa inyo dahil nga sa pagbigay ng titulo (to maximize this opportunity that we gave you),” he added.

Marcos described the distribution of land titles as a “Christmas gift” as he lauded his administration for exceeding its nationwide target of distributing lands this 2023.

“The distribution of more than 2,900 hectares of land to more than 2,000 beneficiaries here in Western Visayas today is in the pursuit of agrarian reform in our country,” he stressed.

Despite the steps taken by his administration in agrarian reform, the President assured farmer-beneficiaries that government will continue extending necessary support to improve their lives and source of livelihood.

“In the same manner, ito nga ‘yung aking sinasabi ang pag-deliver nga mga fertilizer, ng mga makinarya, mga facilities ay makakatulong upang makamtan natin ang ating hinahanap at ating pinapangarap na magandang kinabukasan para sa ating mga magsasaka, para sa ating mga sinasaka, at para sa mga susunod na henerasyon (this is what I’ve been saying, the delivery of fertilizers, machineries, facilities will help us achieve our dreams of a better future for our farmers, for our crops, and for the next generations),” Marcos stated.

“So, let us continue to work, let us continue to support our farmers. The farmers have done their part, it is now up to us in the government to do our part,” he added.

The President said that farmers have been working their whole lives and they have given their all, so it is time for the government to support and uplift them.

He urged the public to come together and empower farmers, insisting that the call to unity was not merely a campaign slogan but his belief that unity will bring progress to the country.

In this regard, Marcos assured that his administration “will continue to pursue food security, economic prosperity for the present and succeeding generations.”

Aside from distributing land titles to Western Visayas beneficiaries, President Marcos also led the turnover of support services—farm machinery and equipment—totaling P26.7 million, as well as P10.8 million worth of farm machinery and equipment composed of tractors, mobile rice mill, corn sheller, and palay reaper and thresher, to more than 3,000 ARBs from Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo.

Tissue culture facilities with greenhouses amounting to P15.3 million were also distributed. This stands to benefit more than 7,000 ARBs in Capiz and Iloilo.

Other officials who were present during the land title distribution were Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares.