Manila: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is intensifying its nationwide operations starting this October as it accelerates the distribution of about 400,000 hectares of land to meet its target for 2025. In a news release on Wednesday, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the efforts are in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uplift the lives of Filipino farmers and strengthen the country’s food security.
According to Philippines News Agency, Estrella stated that “DAR is now in full operational swing to meet the target within the year, following the President’s directive to fast-track the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).” He added that October is a crucial month for DAR as they speed up land validation, documentation, and titling activities across the country. The aim is to fulfill the commitment to Congress to distribute 400,000 hectares of land by 2025 and assist more farmers in owning the lands they have long been cultivating.
Regional DAR offices nationwide are conducting simultaneous field validations, land surveys, and title distributions in coordination with the Land Registration Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Land Bank of the Philippines, and local government units. This collaboration aims to fast-track documentation and efficiently issue individual land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Project.
Estrella reported that DAR has already distributed a total of 242,883 land titles to 232,098 ARBs, covering 305,944 hectares of farmland from July 2022 to August 2025. Additionally, 401,001 Certificates of Condonation and Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) have been distributed, totaling PHP41 billion in unpaid amortizations to 322,200 ARBs, covering 434,216 hectares of land. This condonation has relieved farmers from longstanding debts, granting them full ownership of their awarded lands.
To complement land ownership with support services, DAR will conduct a series of nationwide distributions of land titles and the awarding of COCROMs, as well as the distribution of farm machinery and equipment (FMEs) for both ARBs and ARB organizations from October to December.
Estrella emphasized that the DAR’s ongoing reforms focus on transparency, efficiency, and accountability, ensuring that agrarian reform leads to inclusive growth and lasting rural development. “Every title distributed and every case resolved represents a family’s hope for stability and progress. Our performance reflects the dedication of the entire DAR organization to deliver on its promises. We will continue to work relentlessly to ensure that our 400,000-hectare target for 2025 is fully realized,” he stated.
