721 ARB farmers freed from debt

The Department of Agrarian Reform has released 721 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the clutches of debt from  Davao Oriental as DAR Davao Region distributed Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs).

DAR awarded 1,001 COCROMs to 721 ARBs, effectively condoning P9.93 million in amortization and interests pursuant to Republic Act No. 11953, which provides significant financial relief and secures the beneficiaries’ ownership of their awarded lands.

Aside from COCROMS, the DAR also distributed and turned over farm machineries and equipment (FMEs) under the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” program.

DAR Undersecretary Lani C. De Leon for Policy, Planning and Research Office and Regional Director Joseph H. Orilla, along with local government officials and partner agencies, led the ceremonial turnover of the condonation certificates and package of support to the farmers during a simple ceremony held recently.

“This milestone is more than just debt relief. It empowers our farmers by granting them land security and equipping them with the tools to improve productivity and transform their lives,” Orilla said.

Apart from the debt relief certificates, DAR turned over a mobile corn mill and a corn sheller worth P1.29 million to the Talisay CARP Beneficiaries and Farmers Water Service Cooperative under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project. The FMEs aim to boost crop production and raise farmers’ incomes.

The activity highlights the government’s commitment to supporting ARBs not only through land distribution but also through sustained support services to ensure their productivity and livelihood improvement, the DAR said.