Marcos tells agrarian reform beneficiaries in Coron: Land is now yours

More than 2,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries, including agriculture graduates and rebel returnees, received Thursday land titles from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos in Coron, Palawan.

In a small ceremony in the town's old gymnasium, the President distributed certificate of land ownership awards (CLOAs) and e-titles to 1,217 beneficiaries.

These titles cover almost 3,000 hectares of land inside the Busuanga Pasture Reserve.

Also in the same venue, Marcos also turned over three farm-to-market road completed projects linking agricultural areas in three towns of Palawan.

The President, through Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, condoned all outstanding amortization for all agrarian land included in the distribution program.

"Hindi na kayo dapat mag-alala, sa inyo na ang lupa (No need to worry anymore, the land is now yours)," he said.

Marcos also promised to give priority to agriculture graduates in land distribution.

Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama highlighted the importance of including future farmers in the program.

"Ang pagbibigay ng titulo ng sakahan sa mga graduate ng agriculture-related courses ay paghikayat sa mga kabataan sa pagpasok sa pagsasaka para sa ating food sufficiency," Villarama said.

(The distribution of titles for farming lands to graduates of agriculture-related courses is an invitation for the youth to go into farming for our food sufficiency.)

Villarama added that land distribution is also a way to reintegrate former rebels to food production.

"Alam naman natin na ang mga namundok ang dahilan nila kung bakit sila namundok kasi wala silang sariling lupang sakahan. Paghikayat ito sa iba pa na bumalik na sila dahil may mga lupang sakahan para sa kanila," he said.

(We know that they choose to become rebels and go to the mountains because they don't till their own land. This serves as an invite for others to return because there is farming land for them.)

When Marcos took office, there were 1.38 million hectares of agricultural land ready for distribution. Marcos has distributed 140,000 hectares since 2022.

Last June, the President said some 30,000 CLOAs and e-titles have been distributed since January this year.

On his 67th birthday, Marcos said he wishes for an improved agriculture sector in the Philippines so that local farmers and their families could lead better lives. — VDV, GMA Integrated News