CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela – Thousands of farmers in Cagayan Valley are set to embark on a new chapter of hope and empowerment as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in partnership with the World Bank, rolled out a landmark distribution of nearly 2,000 land titles and over 9,000 debt condonation certificates on Thursday.
The ceremony, held during the 12th World Bank Implementation Support Mission for the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (Project SPLIT), marked a major stride in the nationwide effort to strengthen land tenure and boost rural development. Under Project SPLIT, 1,805 land titles were awarded to 1,512 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), covering a total of 3,149 hectares of farmland across the region. At the same time, 9,257 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) were granted to 5,870 ARBs, erasing decades of unpaid land amortizations and liberating 6,389 hectares from financial encumbrance.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III hailed the milestone as a victory for social justice. “These land titles and condonation certificates represent a new beginning for our farmer-beneficiaries. We are not just granting them legal ownership of their land—we are freeing them from the weight of old debts and giving them the means to build a better future,” Estrella said, noting the distribution fulfills the mandate of Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
World Bank Senior Land Administration Specialist Kathrine Kelm emphasized the far-reaching impact of secure land tenure on agricultural development. “To the recipients, congratulations. These land titles are more than documents—they are the foundation of security, opportunity, and dignity for you and your families,” Kelm said.
Beyond land distribution, the World Bank is now exploring additional support for Filipino farmers, including infrastructure, post-harvest facilities, and capacity-building programs to increase productivity. During a focus group discussion with agrarian reform communities, farmers highlighted the urgent need for farm-to-market roads and banana processing centers to strengthen the region’s agricultural value chain.
“What we have achieved today is not the end but the beginning,” Kelm added. “We are committed to working with DAR to ensure that beyond land titles, our farmers gain the tools, facilities, and resources they need to rise out of poverty and thrive.”
Project SPLIT, one of DAR’s flagship initiatives, aims to subdivide collective land titles into individual ownership covering 1.38 million hectares nationwide, benefiting more than 1.14 million ARBs. With the World Bank’s continued backing, the program is poised to create lasting economic and social impact in rural communities, paving the way for a more inclusive and productive Philippine agriculture sector.
NPO News Team
NPO-PR
