DAR distributes 71,360 titles to 68,427 farmers
A total of 71,360 titles covering 85,853 hectares have already been distributed to at least 68,427 farmer-beneficiaries in the first year of the administration of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella lll.
In his report to the House Committee on Appropriations budget hearing, Estrella said that of the total number, at least 49,484 titles covering 43,623 hectares were distributed to 43,623 farmer-beneficiaries from January to July 7, 2023, alone.
Estrella disclosed that under the previous DAR administration, there were only 2,343 titles covering 2,159 hectares distributed to 3, 393 farmers from January to December 2022.
Under the present administration, within a comparable period, from July to December 2022, the numbers increased to 6,736 titles covering 8,991 hectares distributed to 6,945 beneficiaries.
Estrella specifically cited the record-breaking performance on the distribution of e-titles under the project Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT), which parcelizes lands under collective certificates of land ownership awards (CCLOAs) to have specific areas titled to individual farmers.
Based on the record, a 1,6275% increase was noted from January to July 2023 with a total of 33,654 e-titles covering 46, 241 hectares given to 29,320 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) compared to only 2,343 titles covering 3, 393 hectares distributed to 2, 159 beneficiaries from March 2021 to June 2022 under the previous administration.
Estrella said that the SPLIT land distribution performance for the first 7 months of 2023 is outstanding compared to the cumulative 22 months of overall land distribution accomplishments from March 2021 to December 2022.
Meanwhile, lawmakers lauded the performance of the DAR and expressed support for the move to increase the 2024 budget of the DAR which only amounted to P9.392-billion from P 16 B 1n 2023.
The solons also noted that the proposed 2024 budget is insufficient to finance its three major program thrusts in 2024, namely accelerated land distribution, swifter agrarian justice delivery and strategic provision of broader support services to farmers.
