Over 400K land titles distributed to farmers in past four years —Marcos

More than 400,000 land titles have been distributed to farmers within four years, as the present administration targets to finish the distribution by next year, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday.

"Upang makapagbibigay ng kapanatagan sa isipan ng mga benepisyaryo ng agrarian reform, wala tayong tigil sa pamamahagi ng mga titulo sa lupa na ginawad sa kanila," he said in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

(To provide peace of mind to the beneficiaries of agrarian reform, we have not stopped distributing the land titles awarded to them.)

"Kaya sa loob ng apat na taon, lagpas apat na raang libong titulo na ang suma-total ng ating naipamahagi na sa kanila, na may kabuuang lawak na mahigit limandaang libong ektarya. Tatapusin na natin ang pamamahagi ng mga titulo sa susunod na taon," he added.

(So within four years, the grand total of land titles we have distributed to them has now exceeded 400,000, covering a total area of over 500,000 hectares. We will finish the distribution of land titles next year.)

Marcos noted that several agrarian reform beneficiaries have waited for 60 years before they claimed their land titles.

"Marami sa benepisyaryo ang naghintay ng tatlumpu hanggang animnapung taon. Ang iba, mapalad na nasaksihan pa ang paglabas ng kanilang titulo. Sa tagal ng panahon, ‘yung iba naman ay apo na ang tumanggap," he said.

(Many of the beneficiaries waited 30 to 60 years. Some were fortunate enough to still witness the release of their titles. Because of how much time has passed, for others, it was already their grandchildren who received them.)

Further, the Marcos administration vows to continue condoning the unpaid debt by agrarian reform beneficiaries.

"Gayundin kahalaga sa kanila ang seguridad na hatid ng kalayaan mula sa pagkalubog sa utang," said Marcos.

(Equally important to them is the security brought by freedom from being buried in debt.)

"Kaya asahan ninyo na kukumpletuhin na natin ngayong taon ang ginagawa nating pagpapawalang-bisa ng mga utang ng ating mga benepisyaryo," he added.

(So rest assured that we will complete this year our ongoing condonation of the debts of our beneficiaries.)

Following his statements, Marcos joked that it's not yet time for Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III to retire.

"Kaya, Secretary Conrad, huwag mong iisipin na puwede ka nang mag-retire. Marami ka pang trabaho na gagawin sa DAR," the President quipped.

(So, Secretary Conrad, don't think you can retire just yet. You still have a lot of work to do at the DAR.)

Estrella was caught on camera laughing at the gallery.

Signed into law by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in July 2023, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act condones all amortizations, interest, and penalties on land awarded to agrarian reform beneficiaries. The law is expected to benefit 610,054 farmers and write off P57.56 billion in land-related debts.

In 2024, the Department of Agrarian Reform said that at least 800,000 land titles are eyed to be distributed to ARBs before the end of the Marcos administration. —VAL/RF, GMA News