Tacloban City Convention Center, Tacloban City
May 20, 2024
“Tungkulin kong tiyakin na ang inyong mga pangangailangan at pangarap, lalo na ang mga mahal nating magsasaka, ay matutugunan. Kaya naman po hangad ko na, na sa loob ng aking termino, lahat ng benepisyaryo ng repormang agraryo ay makakatanggap ng titulo ng kanilang sariling lupa,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reassured his countrymen as he continued the distribution of land titles and turnover of support services to farmers in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas).
As the Administration continues to fulfill its commitment to ensure that farmers receive legal ownership of the land they till, the President and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed a total of 5,438 land titles for the Region during a program held in Tacloban City. Of this number, 5,400 are electronic titles issued under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project while 38 are Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). These form part of the 7,914 hectares of land located in several towns in Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Western Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, benefitting around 5,906 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
“Ang lahat ng lupa at serbisyong matatanggap ninyo ngayon ay ang magiging pundasyon kung saan tayo nagtatayo ng isang mas maunlad na Bagong Pilipinas,” President Marcos Jr. expressed, stating that agrarian reform does not only cover the distribution of land titles to ARBs, but the extension of support services as well.
The Chief Executive also turned over about PhP350 million worth of farm-to-market roads, alongside four (4) PBBM bridges (Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka) with a total amount of PhP78.172 million. Additionally, a total of PhP71 million, comprising of four (4) irrigation facilities, were entrusted to help address the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon and drought being felt in Region VIII.
Moreover, various farm machinery and equipment valued at PhP10.28 million were handed over to different farmer groups all over Eastern Visayas.
“Sa inyo nakasalalay ang seguridad ng pagkain sa bansa. Dahil dito, nais kong ipabatid ang aking taos-pusong suporta sa inyong mga pagsisikap. Kayo ang tunay na mga bayani sa ating lupang pinagyaman ng inyong pawis at pagmamahal. Ang hiling lamang po namin ay alagaan naman ninyo at pagyamanin po ninyo ang mga binigay sa inyo ngayon,” the President conveyed.
“Kun magburubligay kita, mahimo naton nga mapadako an kita han aton mga parag-uma ug mawara an kapobrehan ha aton mga kabaryohan (If we work together, we can increase the income of our farmers and eliminate poverty in our rural areas),” he continued in his message. President Marcos Jr. vowed that he would return to the Region to deliver more services for the people.
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