Tolentino lauds PBBM, DAR for fulfilling promise to uplift farmers
SENATE Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for fulfilling the government’s commitment to alleviate the condition of Filipino farmers and boost their productivity, which he said will redound to progress in the countryside and the sustainable growth of the agriculture sector.
At the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) held Thursday (September 12) at the DAR compound in Quezon City, Pres. Marcos and DAR Sec. Conrado Estrella III led the turnover of 1,118 COCROMs to more than a thousand Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Bulacan.
The agricultural lands covered by the COCROMs total 1,728 hectares spanning 12 localities in the province, including San Miguel, Baliwag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, Angat, Bustos, Norzagaray, Balagtas, Bocaue, Pandi, San Jose Del Monte, and Sta. Maria.
The COCROMs will ‘erase’ all unpaid principal amortizations, interest, and surcharges on agricultural lands awarded to the ARBs amounting to P275 million. The condoning of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ loans is mandated under Republic Act 11953, the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act, which was enacted in July last year.
In addition, 343 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) were awarded to 287 ARBs in Nasugbu, Batangas, covering 233 hectares.
In his speech, Tolentino told the farmer-beneficiaries that the COCROMs and CLOAs they received “are more than just titles to the agrarian lands they till, but a proof of the government’s genuine commitment to help them.”
He also told the audience that as majority leader, “our farmers can be assured that the Senate will prioritize measures to uplift and modernize Philippine agriculture.”
Finally, Tolentino greeted Sec. Estrella (September 12) and Pres. Marcos (September 13), whose birthdays are just a day apart: “Consider this as the birthday gift of President Marcos and Sec. Estrella to all of you!” the senator told the farmer-beneficiaries.
