Tolentino lauds farmers’ role as nation builders

Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino with agrarian reform beneficiaries from Pampanga who received their Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage.

BACOLOR, Pampanga – Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday lauded the valuable role of farmers as nation builders.

He also commended the contribution of Pampanga’s farmers in turning the province into the country’s “culinary capital.”

“Pampanga is well known for its delicious dishes and its rich culinary heritage. But we know that no dish is complete without the fresh ingredients that our farmers produce,” Tolentino said in a speech before thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from 20 localities across the province.

Tolentino is one the principal authors of Senate Bill No. 2797, which officially declares Pampanga as the country’s “culinary capital.” The measure has passed on second reading in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, and other officials attend the awarding of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage to 2,487 agrarian reform beneficiaries from 20 localities across the province.

Tolentino was in Bacolor on Thursday morning to witness the awarding by President Ferdinand  Marcos Jr. of 2,939 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to 2,487 ARBs from the province.

The COCROMs cover 3,900 hectares of farmland and amount to P206.37-million amortizations written off by the government. In addition, 30 land titles and 30 tax declarations were awarded to selected ARBs.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino congratulates a farmer who received a certificate condoning the debts of her farmland through Republic Act No.11953, or the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act.

“The condoning of the debts on your farmland is the clearest proof that the government cares and values your role as nation builders,” said Tolentino, as he acknowledged the presence in the ceremony of members of the House of Representatives, local chief executives led by Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, and officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform led by Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

The distribution of COCROMs is part of the P57.56-billion debts, including interests, surcharges, and penalties owed by more than 600,000 farmers, that would be condoned through Republic Act No.11953, or the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act.