President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. distributed 2,939 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) and awarded 30 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to over 2,000 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Pampanga on Thursday.
In his speech in Bacolor, Pampanga, President Marcos said the distribution of COCROMs and CLOAs would help ease farmers’ plight following the series of typhoons in the country.
In receiving the COCROMs, the President said the ARBs are freed from debt totaling PhP206.38 million.
“Kasama na rito ang amortisasyon, ang interes, at iba pang mga surcharge na nakaangkla sa inyong mga lupang sakahan sa loob ng napakahabang panahon. Simula ngayon, pinapawalang-bisa na po natin ang inyong utang sa lupang ipinagkaloob sa inyo sa ilalim ng repormang agraryo,” he said.
“Isa pa ito sa talaga na ating mga layunin. Isang hakbang ito upang pagtibayin pa ang sektor ng agrikultura at matulungan na maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng ating mga magsasaka,” he added.
Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Garcia Pineda expressed her deepest gratitude to President Marcos and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella for ensuring the welfare of farmers and prioritizing their needs.
“Sa ilalim po ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulo, patuloy ang mga hakbang upang mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayang magsasaka. Kasama po nila tayo sa kanilang laban para sa mas maginhawang buhay. Muli, maraming salamat po kay Pangulong Marcos, kay Secretary Estrella — Secretary Conrad Estrella,” Pineda said.
One of the beneficiaries, Elistacio Manansala of Bacolor, Pampanga, expressed relief over the cancellation of his ₱60,000 debt tied to the 2.3 hectares of farmland he acquired under Presidential Decree No. 27 in 1973.
Manalastas said the debt cancellation is a huge burden lifted off his shoulders, and that the income from the land will now directly benefit his family.
The debt cancellation is expected to open new opportunities for farmers, allowing them to focus on food production without the worry of financial obligations.
Eduardo Sison, Manager of Land Bank of the Philippines’ Field Services Support Center in San Fernando, Pampanga, encouraged farmers to take advantage of the bank’s agricultural loan programs to boost their productivity.
Loan programs available include AgriSenso under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Republic Act 10848), the Sikat-Saka Program in partnership with the Department of Agriculture under the Food Staples Sufficiency Program, and the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Act (Republic Act 11901), which expands the Agri-Agra Law.
With the government’s support, these initiatives aim to empower farmers and enhance food security by ensuring continuous and sustainable agricultural production.
As of November 17, the DAR has distributed a total of 41,675 COCROMs. Additionally, from July 2022 to November 2024, DAR has distributed 160,516 CLOAs.
