Marcos leads distribution of condonation certificates to farmers

More than 2,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Pampanga province received their Certificates of Land Ownership Award and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage in a ceremony on Thursday, November 21, 2024. (Courtesy of Luisa Cabato/INQUIRER.net

BACOLOR, Pampanga — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to agricultural reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in this province, freeing them from P206.38-million land amortization.

In a ceremony held at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Marcos spearheaded the awarding of 2,939 COCROMs to 2,487 ARBs.

Thirty Certificates of Land Ownership Awards were also awarded to 28 ARBs to solidify their ownership of the lands they till.

The distribution of COCROMs is mandated by Republic Act No. 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which frees the ARBs from paying loans and other debts related to their land.

“May our offering today serves as an inspiration for a new chapter in your lives, where not only you and your family will progress — even the whole country will be with you in your success,” Marcos said.

“This is my appeal: Let us unite in planting the seeds of hope for the New Philippines,” he added.

Meanwhile, during his 8th meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council – Agriculture Sector in Malacañang on Wednesday, Marcos urged state universities and colleges to shift the focus of agriculture students to seed production to help boost agricultural productivity in the country.

“The farmers can take care of the actual growing of seedlings. These new agronomists, agriculturists, can be [the] ones doing seed production,” he said.