DAR distributes CoCRoMs, land titles to 5K Iloilo, Guimaras farmers

Over 5,200 agrarian reform beneficiaries from Iloilo and Guimaras were relieved of their debts through the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) on Saturday.

Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jesry Palmares led the ceremony at Iloilo Sports Complex, where 7,039 CoCRoMs covering a total of 5,465.12 hectares valued at PHP314.66 million were handed out.

In addition to CoCRoMs, 479 land titles for 473.97 hectares and 1,100 electronic titles for 879.98 hectares were also distributed to beneficiaries under the Newlands project and Support to Parcelization of Lands to Individual Titling project.

Palmares cited the year-long effort to secure these documents, emphasizing their significance as proof of legitimate land ownership that can be passed on to future generations.

Barotac Nuevo farmer Pura Barquila expressed gratitude, saying the condonation would enable her community to invest in land cultivation instead of paying amortizations.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. emphasized the importance of ARBs as pillars of agriculture and the economy, noting that government support for agriculture will be channeled through agrarian reform communities, which also serve as hubs for barangay-based agro-tourism programs.