PALAYAN CITY — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has granted Certificates of Condonation and land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Nueva Ecija, cancelling P21 million in land amortization debts and awarding ownership to over 100 farmers.
A total of 558 ARBs received Certificates of Condonation under Republic Act No. 11953, or the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act, freeing them from unpaid land amortization amounting to ₱21,065,892.00.
DAR Assistant Secretary for Support Services James Arsenio Ponce said the cancellation of land debts enables ARBs to focus on farm productivity and long-term livelihood.
“Your land amortization debts have officially been cancelled, and the amount you were supposed to pay can now be used for your production needs,” Ponce said.
In addition, 102 ARBs from nine municipalities received Certificates of Land Title Ownership Award covering 89.25 hectares of agricultural land under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.
DAR Central Luzon Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Eric Francis Luna lauded the government’s commitment to agrarian reform.
“Ating ipagbunyi ang araw na ito at taos pusong pasasalamat kay President Bongbong Marcos Jr. at Secretary Conrado Estrella III sa pagtanggap ng ating Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage and Certificates of Land Title Ownership Award (Let us celebrate this day and extend our heartfelt thanks to President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Secretary Conrado Estrella III for the issuance of our Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage and Certificates of Land Title Ownership Award),” Luna said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Eden Ponio reminded beneficiaries not to sell their awarded lands, warning that premature sale or neglect of the land could lead to disqualification and cancellation of the title.
One of the recipients, Angel Gulatchino, expressed gratitude for the long-awaited land title.
“We waited almost 30 years for this land title, and it will finally help us build a sustainable livelihood,” Gulatchino said.
The distribution forms part of DAR’s thrust to ensure land tenure security and empower farmers toward productivity and self-sufficiency. (MJSC/MCAL, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija GIP)