Over 9,900 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) across the Bicol Region now fully own their farmland and are relieved from more than ₱418 million in unpaid debts, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced Thursday.
Under the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, the agency issued 11,247 land titles and debt condonation documents covering 15,534 hectares of agricultural land across all six provinces of Bicol. The move wipes out decades of unpaid land amortization worth ₱418.2 million in total.
Alongside land and debt relief, DAR turned over ₱294 million worth of farm-to-market roads in Polangui, Libon, and Oas towns. These roads will help 1,243 farmers bring produce to markets more easily, and benefit over 11,000 local residents.
To boost productivity and climate resilience, the department also distributed ₱28.5 million in farm machinery and supplies to 51 ARBs under its Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project.
DAR said these combined efforts—securing land rights, clearing debts, building infrastructure, and providing farming support—reflect the government’s commitment to improving farmers’ lives, raising agricultural output, and building sustainable rural communities.
