Coron, Palawan
September 19, 2024

“Isa ang lalawigan ng Palawan sa pinakamagandang lugar hindi lamang sa ating bansa, kundi kinikilala rin sa buong mundo… At ang yaman pong ito ay hangad nating mapalago nang umunlad ang sektor ng agrikultura dito sa region ninyo,” expressed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. when he personally distributed the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Province of Palawan.

The President made these remarks after handing over the CLOAs to select beneficiaries in a program held in Coron, together with Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III. The event benefitted 1,270 ARBs, including 19 agricultural graduates and 50 rebel returnees.

“Kailangan natin ng mga magsasaka. Kaya’t kasama po sa chapter ng agrarian reform program na lahat ng mga kabataan na dumaan at naging estudyante sa kurso ng agrikultura ay mabibigyan din ng lupa upang ‘yung kanilang natutunan ay meron silang paglalagyan, meron silang magagamit na lupa para magamit naman nila ang kanilang bagong natutunan tungkol sa agrikultura,” he conveyed.

Apart from the distribution of land titles, he likewise turned over farm-to-market road (FMR) projects that are seen to improve connectivity between farming communities and local markets. These FMRs include San Nicolas to Sitio Caniogan FMR, Sitio Nalbot to Arado FMR, and Busuang to Caruray FMR.

“Ang lahat ng ginagawa natin ay naglalayong tiyakin na ang bawat metro ng lupa ay magsisilbing pundasyon ng isang mas maunlad at mas maaliwalas na kinabukasan para sa ating mga magsasaka — isang kinabukasan na puno ng katiyakan, seguridad, at pagkakataong umunlad hindi lamang sa sakahan kung hindi sa bawat aspeto ng inyong buhay,” said the Chief Executive, reaffirming the Administration’s commitment to empower the livelihood and uplift the lives of all those in the agriculture sector.

He also shared the government’s ongoing efforts to relieve ARBs from their financial burden through Republic Act (RA) No. 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), which condones all loans, including interests, penalties and surcharges incurred by ARBs.

Around 600,000 farmers are said to benefit from the Law, covering more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands nationwide.

“Kaya’t sabay-sabay nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa isang Bagong Pilipinas — isang bansa kung saan ang bawat mamamayan ay may pagkakataon, may dignidad, may pag-asa para sa mas magandang kinabukasan,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his message.

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