Around 5,700 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from across Northern Mindanao have received their long-awaited land titles and debt condonation certificates, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) reported Friday. Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said the awarding was during the Stakeholders’ Forum held on 22 October 2025 at The Atrium, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City. The ceremony, Estrella said, underscored the government’s commitment to empower farmers through genuine land ownership and financial freedom.

Covering a total of 6,235.23 hectares of agricultural land, the distribution marks another milestone in DAR’s continuing mission to secure land tenure and uplift the lives of Filipino farmers. Additionally, 1,026 ARBs were granted full debt relief, amounting to P61.26 million, through the issuance of Certificates of Condonation and Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), freeing them from unpaid land amortizations covering 1,446.07 hectares.

Provincial Breakdown in Northern Mindanao

• Bukidnon: 3,863 ARBs | 3,558.97 hectares

• Camiguin: 158 ARBs | 79.94 hectares

• Lanao del Norte: 263 ARBs | 534.20 hectares

• Misamis Occidental: 686 ARBs | 646.60 hectares

• Misamis Oriental: 818 ARBs | 1,415.53 hectares

Land Title Distribution

• Regular EPs/CLOAs: 211 ARBs | 268.42 hectares

• E-Titles (Project SPLIT): 4,551 ARBs | 4,520.74 hectares

• CoCRoMs (Debt Condonation): 1,026 ARBs | 1,446.07 hectares | P61.26 million condoned

Estrella reaffirmed DAR’s support for Filipino farmers: “The title you received comes with no amortization. It is free land for farmers, along with continuous support services. To our farmers, just hold on. Do not give up. The DAR is here, and we will not stop until our farmers rise and prosper,” Estrella said.

For the ARBs, the moment was deeply emotional. “After 30 years, I finally received and now hold under my name the land title I have long dreamed of,” Andreo Dorias from Ozamis said. “The CoCRoM we received is a huge help and relief for our livelihood because we no longer have to pay the debt for the land granted to us by the government,” shared Arnel Omandam from Misamis Occidental.

Through this event, DAR not only distributed land titles but also restored dignity, freedom, and hope to thousands of farmers in Northern Mindanao, empowering them to cultivate a more prosperous and self-sustaining rural economy.