Davao land title distribution frees thousands of ARBs from P700M debt

A total of 15,195 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) were distributed to 9,501 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) across the Davao Region, formally relieving them of a combined debt of P716 million, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) reported Friday.

DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said the certificates cover 16,210.515 hectares of agricultural land granted to the beneficiaries under the government's agrarian reform program, marking a significant milestone in empowering farmers and promoting rural development in the region.

Estrella personally led the ceremonial turnover of land titles, Electronic Titles (E-Titles) under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project, and CoCRoMs on Thursday, 24 July 2025, at the Panabo City Multipurpose, Cultural, and Sports Center in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Estrella underscored the government’s commitment to empowering Filipino farmers through secure land tenure and financial freedom.

“What we want to plant — and what we are already planting — is the seed of progress and prosperity for all farmers, especially the agrarian reform beneficiaries. The first thing we plant is the distribution of land, because we believe that it is the most valuable seed. When farmers have land, their lives will improve. Second, we are erasing the debts of ARBs. And third, more support services are on the way,” he said.

The distribution also included 2,856 E-Titles issued under Project SPLIT, benefitting 3,166 ARBs and covering 3,771 hectares, as well as 50 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) for 40 ARBs from Davao City, covering 35.2060 hectares.

One of the recipients, Johaima Pinduruan, 54, from Mati, Davao Oriental, received Title No. CARP 2018000765, covering 29,553 sq m and condoning her debt amounting to P113,217.88. She expressed her gratitude to the President and DAR Secretary.

“We are very fortunate because we no longer have to pay our land debts,” she said.