Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino graced the distribution of loan condonation certificates and land titles to 9,000 farmers in Negros Occidental on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.
CADIZ CITY, Negros Occidental – Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino on Thursday graced the distribution of loan condonation certificates and land titles to 9,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), describing the documents as the “best Christmas gift to farmers” from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. this year.
Turned over were 9,707 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to 6,125 ARBs from the province.
The COCROMs wrote off P816.69 million worth of farmers’ loans from the Land Bank, covering 6,413 hectares of farmlands.
Moreover, 4,348 electronic titles, or e-titles, were given to 2,220 ARBs, spanning 2,517 hectares. Also given were 969 Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) to 682 ARBs, covering 419 hectares of agricultural lands.
Sen. Francis Tolentino interacts with agrarian reform beneficiaries at the turnover ceremonies held in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
“Let us thank President Marcos for signing the landmark law which made all of this possible. You should also commend Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Sec. Conrado Estrella for his tireless efforts to press the senators to approve this measure,” said Tolentino, referring to Republic Act No. 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
“I urge you to take care of these documents, which are proof of the government’s commitment to serve you in recognition of your contribution to our economy and food security,” the senator told the audience at the Cadiz Arena.
Sen. Francis Tolentino interacts with agrarian reform beneficiaries at the turnover ceremonies held in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
The ceremony was also attended by Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, DAR Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Castil, Jr., DAR Regional Director for the Negros Island Region Lucrecia Taberna, and several other officials.