‘Labor of love:’ Marcos distributes CLOAs to Central Visayas folk

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. leads the distribution of land titles to beneficiaries, including 102-year old Semion Academia  in Dumaguete City on May 20, 2024. (PCO)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Monday distributed  2,867 hectares of agricultural lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Central Visayas.

Citing data from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Palace said that 3,855 beneficiaries in Bohol, Cebu and Negros Oriental will receive a  Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA).

Marcos called it a “labor of love”.

“Alam niyo po kung bakit sinasabi kong labor of love yan? Nagsimula ito noong panahon na ang Pangulo ay ang aking ama. Nagsimula ito noong ang lolo ni Secretary Conrad Estrella ay Secretary Conrado Estrella ng DAR, sila ang nagsimula nitong lahat. Kaya’t noong kami ay umupo, bilang secretary, bilang Pangulo ay nagtataka kami, tatlumpung taon na nag-aantay ang mga tao – umabot na nga 102 years ang ating pinakamasigasig, ang ating pinamalakas na magsasaka na hanggang ngayon nag-aanatay pa,” said Marcos in his speech.

(Do you know why we call it a labor of love? This started when my father was still president and Secretary Conrado Estrella’s grandfather was DAR Secretary, they started all of it. So when we became President and Secretary, we wondered why 30 years have passed and farmers are still waiting, one of our strongest farmers even turned 102 yearts old.)

Marcos was referring to Simeon A. Acadmia, a centenarian farmer from Bais City, Negros Oriental who waited 42 years for his CLOA.