The agricultural productivity momentum is gaining traction, with the distribution of new and individualized land titles accelerating since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office on 1 July 2022.

Year-end data collated by the Department of Agrarian Reform showed the DAR had distributed 194,111 land titles, including electronic titles (e-Title), emancipation patents (EP) and certificates of land ownership award (CLOA), covering 229,546 hectares of farmland to 186,290 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the first two and a half years of the Marcos administration.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III highlighted the significant improvement in land title distribution under the present administration, noting a 1,100-percent increase compared to the 17,640 titles covering 26,403 hectares distributed to 17,549 ARBs in the final half of the previous administration.

In the first semester of Marcos’ term, a 24-percent increase in land distribution was recorded compared to the previous administration, with 21,876 land titles covering 25,159 hectares distributed to 24,804 ARBs in the latter half of 2022.

The following year saw further growth, with 69,897 land titles covering 84,044 hectares awarded to 73,399 ARBs, representing a 296-percent increase in land distribution. In 2024, the department achieved a record-breaking year, distributing 102,338 land titles covering 120,343 hectares to 88,087 ARBs marking a 480-percent increase in distributions.

“This is a major development in our all-out war against hunger and poverty, as the number of ARBs activated and motivated to cultivate their land has increased dramatically,” Estrella said.

“With more hands working the land, we will be able to produce more and accelerate rural development at a much faster pace,” he added.

Of the total titles distributed, the DAR provided 132,393 e-Titles covering 170,718 hectares of farmland to 124,651 ARBs through the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Project, while 61,718 newly generated EPs and CLOAs, covering 58,828 hectares, were awarded to 61,639 ARBs under the Regular Land Acquisition and Distribution program.