DAR-13
frees over 5K ARBs in Agusan Sur from land debt
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur - A total of 5,115 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the province of Agusan del Sur received their Certificate of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM), recently organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Caraga.
This momentous occasion – held at the Naliyagan Complex, Provincial Government Center in Patin-ay, Prosperidad – marked a significant milestone in the lives of the awardees, providing them with a renewed sense of hope and empowerment as beneficiaries of agrarian reform.
According to the DAR, the distribution of the COCROM was not only a celebration of the awardees’ achievements but also a testament of the government’s dedication to uplifting the agricultural sector.
Adding to the significance of the event was the presence of Senator Francis N. Tolentino, who delivered an inspirational message to the awardees.
“This is a symbol of what the national government is doing – being close to the people and fulfilling its promises. It’s not just a title of the land that you are receiving, but an opportunity to start anew and make it an instrument, as well as a part of your success,” he said.
Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. warmly welcomed all the farmers and ARBs present during the distribution of COCROM.
“Don’t sell the land given to you because that is the source of your income, and the soil is the foundation of our livelihood,” he said.
“I would like to express my gratitude to our President, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for ensuring that our farmers and ARBs are now free from their obligation to pay LandBank for the land awarded to them,” Cane added.
A total of 6,503 COCROMs were distributed, covering a land area of 8,347.2238 hectares, with a total amount of P157,615,482.47 condoned during the awarding ceremony.
Meanwhile, Remedio G. Gallardo Sr., an ARB and the representative from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Marcos Jr., DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, and all the key members of the Department of Agrarian Reform in the region and in the province for condoning their bank loan and freeing his family from the mortgage.
“I am speechless and cannot fully express how happy I am to finally receive the COCROM,” he said.
“With this, I can now continue to work for my family by farming my own piece of land,” he added.
The event symbolized a step forward in ensuring land security and economic stability for farmers, fostering sustainable growth in the province of Agusan del Sur. (KKG, PIA-Agusan del Sur)
