For thousands of farmers in Region XII, 18 December was more than a ceremony — it was the moment a long wait finally ended.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Sunday rolled out a regionwide distribution of land titles and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) across SOCCSKSARGEN, benefiting 29,382 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Held at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center, the event formed part of the Marcos administration’s drive to hit its 300,000-hectare land distribution target for the year — an effort aimed at securing land tenure while lifting long-standing debt burdens from farming families.

By the numbers, the rollout was massive.

DAR distributed 28,633 land titles — including e-titles, Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), and CoCRoMs — covering 63,454.4955 hectares. On top of that, the agency granted P832.29 million in debt condonation, freeing farmers from unpaid land amortizations and giving them room to reinvest in their farms, livelihoods, and families.

DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, who led the distribution, said the Region XII activity was a key piece of a nationwide push ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“We are distributing land titles across the country in line with the President’s directive to distribute about 300,000 hectares this year,” Estrella said. “What we are doing here in Region XII is part of that national effort — to ensure that farmers finally own the land they have long cultivated.”

Beyond the paperwork, Estrella stressed that secure land ownership and debt relief are crucial to strengthening the agricultural sector and building a more resilient economy.

“When farmers are freed from uncertainty and debt, they gain the confidence to invest, to produce more, and to contribute meaningfully to our economy,” he said. “Empowering farmers is nation-building at its core.”

For beneficiaries, the impact was deeply personal.

Maria Lina Raposa, an agrarian reform beneficiary from South Cotabato, called the distribution life-changing.

“This is a dream we waited for a long time to come true,” she said. “I will take good care of this land and make sure it is preserved so that I can pass it on to the next generation.”

Hilario Castillo, an ARB from Sultan Kudarat, echoed the sentiment, saying the land title brought long-sought certainty after decades of waiting.