The Department of Agrarian Reform in Negros Oriental distributed last Saturday land titles and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) to about 1,304 farmers.
Manuel Galon, DAR provincial Agrarian Reform program officer, said this batch of agrarian reform beneficiaries received their Certificates of Land Ownership Award, e-titles, and their respective CoCRoM documents.
Among the recipients, 98 beneficiaries received CLOAs, 503 received e-titles, and 520 received CoCRoM, covering a total of 1,442.64 hectares of land.
“The ARBs now have their individual titles, although they previously received collective titles distributed by DAR,” Galon said.
The distribution of CoCRoM is mandated by Republic Act 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which frees agrarian reform beneficiaries from the financial obligation of having to pay for their loans and other debts associated with their land.
RA 11953 is a law “emancipating agrarian reform beneficiaries from financial burden by condoning all principal loans, unpaid amortizations and interests, and exempting payment of estate tax on agricultural lands awarded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.”
The e-title recipients are from Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan City, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Manjuyod, Bais City, Mabinay, Tanjay City, Pamplona, Amlan, Siaton, Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City, and Basay.
CoCRoM beneficiaries include farmers from La Libertad, Bindoy, San Jose, Bacong, Dauin, and Zamboanguita.
Galon said many CARP beneficiaries have since applied for CoCRoM after learning about the condonation.
He added that more distributions of CoCRoM and land titles are planned in the coming months.
Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Rowena Niña Taduran, Sen. Imee Marcos, and Rep. Camille Villar were expected to attend the distribution ceremony Saturday afternoon at the plenary hall of the Negros Oriental Convention Center. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
