The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) advances closer to its nationwide target of distributing 300,000 hectares of farmland this year as it awarded land titles and debt relief to 29,382 farmers in Region 12 (Soccsksargen). 

In a news release Friday, DAR said the distribution, held on Thursday at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center, covered a total of 63,454.50 hectares across the region.

“We are distributing land titles across the country in line with the President’s directive for DAR to distribute about 300,000 hectares this year,” DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella said in his speech during the distribution.

“What we are doing here in Region 12 is part of that national effort—to ensure that farmers finally own the land they have long cultivated,” he added.

As part of the rollout, DAR distributed 28,633 land titles, including e-titles, and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).

Meanwhile, Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) totalling P832.29 million were distributed, freeing farmers from long-standing amortizations.

“We have waited a long time for this dream to come true. I will take care of this land and try to preserve it so that it can be passed on to the next generation,” Maria Lina Raposa of South Cotabato, one of the beneficiaries, said.

Hilario Castillo, another agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) from Sultan Kudarat, expressed relief that he now owns that land he has been cultivating for a long time.

“After 25 years of waiting, we are now certain that the land we farm is truly ours. This gives us security and hope for the future,” he said.