President Bongbong Marcos Jr. stayed in Mindanao to accord land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte today.
According to the Department of Agrarian Reform, exactly 4,351 certificates of land ownership or CLOAs and electronic titles (e-titles), comprising close to 6,000 hectares of farming land, will be awarded in Koronadal City.
In Dipolog City, almost 4,500 farmers will receive CLOAs and e-titles, which covers more than 7,000 hectares of land.
At 73, Eliseo Tuscano of Matalam, Cotabato, received his land title after having waited for 25 years.
"Lubos po ang aking tuwa at kagalakan dahil sa wakas ay natanggap na namin ang titulo ng aming lupa," Tuscano told the President and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III.
["My joy is at its fullest extent because I have at last received the title of our land."]
"Malaking tulong po ito at kaginhawaan sa aming mga magsasaka dahil binura na ang aming pagkakautang sa Land Bank of the Philippines," he stated in his speech.
["This is a great help to us farmers because our debt to the Land Bank of the Philippines has been erased."]
Tuscano thanked the President for having decreed Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, and expressed his appreciation for Estrella's work in actualizing his dream of owning land.
This Act was meant to free about 610,054 Filipino farmers of debt amounting to P57.65 million.
Tuscano assured Marcos that his administration's help would not be for nothing.
"Makaasa po kayo na ang bunga ng inyong pagsisikap na kami ay mahatiran ng kaukulang serbisyo ay susuklian namin ng ibayong pagsusumikap," Tuscano said. "Bilang mga ARB (Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries), gagawin po namin ang lahat upang mapagyaman at mapangalagaan ang lupang inyong ibinahagi sa amin. Maraming, maraming salamat po at nawa'y pagpalain tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos."
["You can count on the fruit of your efforts in rendering to us this service to be reciprocated with our greater efforts. As Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, we will do everything to enrich and care for the lands you have given us. Thank you very, very much and may we be blessed by our all-mighty God."]
President Marcos said he was happy to personally give to the beneficiaries their land titles. As in the ideal of the "Bagong Pilipinas" [New Philippines], Marcos declared that the welfare of farmers will always be of the utmost importance.
"Sa Bagong Pilipinas, uunahin po natin ang kapakanan ng mga magsasaka at papalayain natin sila sa sistemang nagpapahirap [ng0 kanilang kalagayan," Marcos told thousands of ARBs.
["In the New Philippines, we will put the welfare of farmers first and free them of the system which creates difficulties in their situations."]
"Nawa'y magbigay ito [land titles] ng kapanatagan sa inyong kabuhayan habang itinataguyod ninyo ang seguridad sa pagkain ng buong bansa," the President added.
["May these land titles give you surety in your livelihood as you promote food security in the country."]
Marcos was determined to have all land titles distributed. Already 65 percent of the program has been fulfilled.
The President was in Tawi-Tawi yesterday, and had personally seen to the distribution of financial aid for 10,000 farmers and fishermen.
