Agrarian Reform chief Estrella activates DAR condonation response desk nationwide

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III

MANILA, Philippines — Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III issued orders to all his field officers to immediately operationalize the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Condonation Response Desks (CRDs) for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

This aims to expedite the implementation of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA) or R.A. No. 11953.

In each of DAR’s 78 Provincial Offices (DARPOs) nationwide, the DAR secretary directed Regional Directors (RDs) and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officers (PARPOs), to activate their respective CRDs.

CRDs are one-stop shops and assistance centers for ARBs to be able to secure their Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) swiftly and at no cost.

During the orientation on the condonation process held at DARCO last October 2, 2023, Estrella emphasized the role of the CRDs in expediently processing and verification of the ARBs qualified for immediate condonation, all within the convenience of their local DAR office.

Section 2 of the NAEA provides for outright condonation or write off of all agrarian debts of 263,622 ARBs from the total of 610,054 ARBs whose names and loan details have already been transmitted to Congress during the deliberations of the emancipation bill.

When the qualified ARBs in the condonation list are verified as to their names, address and status in relation to their awarded land, they will be issued their CoCRoMs.

Additionally, Section 8 of the said law mandates the Register of Deeds (ROD) to immediately register EP, CLOA and other titles issued to the ARBs with Certificate of Condonation (CoCRoM) annotated therein.

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Having the CoCRoM in the hands of the ARBs, will open doors and create opportunities to make their farms more productive, thereby resulting in greater financial security for our farmers, and food supply chain security for the Filipino people.

The outright condonation of all amortization payments of the ARBs for their awarded land will clear the way to their 30-year journey from tenancy to ownership.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. continues to take over the helm of the Department of Agriculture (DA) making the agricultural sector as the top priority of the DA for countryside development and agricultural modernization.