Cotabato: Over 2,756 land titles have been distributed to a total of 2,666 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Cotabato and South Cotabato.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded 2,103 land titles to 2,067 ARBs in South Cotabato, covering 2,551.16 hectares. Meanwhile, 653 titles were distributed to 599 ARBs in Cotabato, encompassing 981.11 hectares.
DAR Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs, Amihilda Sangcopan, emphasized that the distribution of land titles represents not only a legal acknowledgment of ARBs’ land rights but also a significant step towards achieving their aspirations. She stated that these titles empower ARBs to make informed decisions about land use, agricultural practices, and future investments, which could lead to improved livelihoods and enhanced food security.
Under Section 25 of the Republic Act (RA) 6657, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, ARBs are entitled to an area not exceeding three hectares, which may consist
of a contiguous tract of land or several parcels combined up to the prescribed award limits. The distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to landless farmers forms part of DAR’s initiatives under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.
Project SPLIT facilitates the issuance of individual land titles from previously awarded collective CLOAs, granting farmers full control and rights over their land. Sangcopan highlighted that agrarian reform is not concluded with the distribution of land titles but marks the beginning of securing land tenure and access to resources for ARBs.
Earlier, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III expressed the goal to distribute approximately 800,000 land titles to ARBs before the conclusion of the current administration. In July 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which will condone the amortization of principal payments
, interest, and penalties on land cultivated by farmers.
