Zubiri pushes for augmented DAR budget, cites strong performance in land reform

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Sunday called for an increase in the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) proposed 2026 budget, citing the agency’s strong track record in land distribution and rural support programs under Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

This came after he moved to approve on the committee level the budget of the Agrarian reform with additional funding during the recent Senate Committee on Finance hearing chaired by Sen. Win Gatchalian.

Zubiri praised the DAR for earning the trust of farmers through consistent service delivery, describing the department as a “bright spot” in public service.

“I am here to give my full support to the budget of Sec. Conrad Estrella. I have my full trust and faith in the department (DAR). They are doing a great job right now. In a time when there is so much distrust, animosity, and anger of the people, I believe that with the Department of Agrarian Reform, wala pong ganyan. The people are very happy with their performance,” he said. 

During the budget briefing, Estrella reported that from July 2022 to August 2025, the DAR distributed more than 242,000 land titles covering over 305,000 hectares, benefiting around 232,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide.

Estrella also noted the issuance of 401,001 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs), effectively writing off P41 billion in debts owed by over 322,000 farmers, freeing them from decades-old land amortization burdens.

Beyond land distribution, the DAR reported significant strides in rural infrastructure, completing 213 irrigation projects and 344 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) from 2022 to mid-2025. 

These projects, Estrella said, have enhanced productivity and market access in agrarian reform communities.

Gatchalian cited a 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) report highlighting the impact of DAR-built FMRs in Bukidnon, where 93.65% of surveyed farmers reported easier market access and higher incomes due to improved transportation links.

Despite its achievements, DAR’s proposed P28-billion budget for 2026 was trimmed to P17 billion by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), affecting several key programs, including the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, which aims to subdivide collective land titles into individual ones.

Zubiri said this shortfall was evident in his home province of Bukidnon, where many farmers still await their individual titles due to funding constraints.

“Additional funds would help the DAR fast-track land titling and other support services crucial to rural productivity,” he said.

“We are all here trying to keep the country afloat. ‘Padayon’ sa Bisaya. Continue your good works that I have seen today in your performance because that’s the one that’s gonna carry us through these troubled times, troubled waters, in our ship of state,” he said. 

He likened the government to a ship of state that needs “fuel and grease” to perform well, stressing that DAR’s effective use of public funds makes it deserving of more support.

Zubiri also praised Gatchalian and the finance committee for seeking “institutional amendments” to realign funds toward high-performing agencies.

“I am happy that Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, if I may make a standing motion, that we approve it with an additional budget for the department,” he said.

The senator closed his remarks by lauding DAR’s well-organized Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) and infrastructure programs that have improved livelihoods in rural areas.

“Kaya money well spent ito… Dagdagan natin ang pondo ng DAR kung pwede,” Zubiri said.