The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to Filipino farmers and to rural development as it joined the landmark distribution of almost 2,000 land titles and over 9,000 debt condonation certificates in Cagayan Valley on Thursday.
In a news release on Friday, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the distribution was held in tandem with the 12th World Bank Implementation Support Mission for the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (Project SPLIT), a nationwide initiative funded by the international lender to strengthen land tenure through the subdivision of collective land titles.
During the ceremony, a total of 1,805 land titles were awarded to 1,512 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Project SPLIT, covering 3,149 hectares of agricultural land across the region.
Moreover, 9,257 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) were distributed to 5,870 ARBs, condoning millions of pesos in unpaid land amortizations and freeing a total of 6,389 hectares of land from financial burden.
“These land titles and condonation certificates represent a new beginning for our farmer-beneficiaries,” Estrella said.
“We are not only granting them legal ownership of their land but also freeing them from decades of debt. This is social justice in action.”
Estrella said the initiative is in compliance with Republic Act 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
He said Project SPLIT, a flagship DAR program, aims to individually title lands previously held under Collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CCLOAs).
The project targets over 1.14 million ARBs across the country, spanning 1.38 million hectares of agricultural land.
World Bank Senior Land Administration Specialist Kathrine Kelm, who joined the distribution ceremony, highlighted the significance of securing land tenure as a foundation for broader agricultural development.
“To the recipients of the land titles, congratulations. This achievement is a testament to your perseverance and dedication. The land titles you’ve received today represent an important step towards greater security and opportunity for you and your families,” she told beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Kelm said that beyond land titling, the World Bank is also exploring ways to further help Filipino farmers by helping them increase their productivity and improve their livelihood through infrastructure, equipment, and capacity-building.
The 12th World Bank Implementation Support Mission for the Support to Project SPLIT held from July 29 to 30 in Cagayan Valley assessed implementation progress, addressed operational challenges, and explored strategies to fast-track land parcelization and titling across the region.
During the mission, the World Bank team also conducted a focus group discussion (FGD) with ARBs from the Benito Soliven Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), where farmers personally shared their aspirations, challenges, and urgent needs.
They highlighted the lack of farm-to-market roads and the need for post-harvest facilities, including warehouses and processing centers for banana-based products such as chips, flour, and vinegar.
Bananas, along with rice and corn, are the primary crops in the area.
In response, Kelm expressed the World Bank’s intent to broaden its support for Filipino farmers beyond land titling.
“Our focus group discussions nationwide allow us to gather valuable insights that shape future collaborations with DAR. We are hopeful that this new initiative will come to fruition and help lift more farmers out of poverty,” Kelm said. (PNA)