Close to 4,000 farmers in Central Visayas received simultaneously their certificate of land ownership awards (CLOAs) from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in a ceremony in Dumaguete City, Province of Negros Oriental on May 20, 2024. 

Marcos handed over 3,800 CLOAS for about 3,000 hectares of land in Region 7 to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in consonance with Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.

RA 11953 aims to "alleviate the debt, including unpaid amortizations, interests, and surcharges incurred by the ARBs under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)."

The simultaneous distribution in Central Visayas posted 65 percent of the Department of Agrarian Reform's (DAR) goal to distribute at least 23,000 hectares of land this year, according to the President in his message. 

Farmer groups also received farm production-related machinery and equipment, or support services, in a ceremony at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center in Dumaguete City carried live on social media platforms for the virtual participation of ARBs in Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.

Farm implements worth P17.5 million, through DAR’s farm mechanization program, are seen to benefit about 3,000 farmers. The farm equipment include tractors, processing tools and dryers, among others. 

It was also learned that the Provinces of Siquijor and Negros Oriental are beneficiaries of farm-to-market roads worth P134 million of a total of P3 billion allocated for Region 7.

Marcos mentioned that agrarian reform has always been a government thrust of his father, the deposed Marcos Sr., and that he seeks to have the reform accomplished fully under his administration.

“Isa sa una na instruction ng aking amang Marcos ang pagbabahagi ng lupang pansakahan upang mapalaya na natin ang ating mga magsasaka sa pagkakautang. Dapat na nating tapusin ito sa pangalawang administrasyon ng Marcos…ang Malacañang na ang lumalapit sa inyo,” the President said to the beneficiaries.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III assisted the President during the distribution along with Siquijor Lone District Representative Zaldy Villa, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria, and other local leaders and stakeholders.