MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated his administration’s commitment to complete the distribution of agrarian reform lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program within his term.
 
The Philippine leader made the statement as he led the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries in a ceremony in Davao City. 

A total of 2,672 agrarian reform beneficiaries received electronically generated land titles covering approximately 3,560 hectares of agrarian reform lands in Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Davao Occidental during the event.
 
“Layunin kong matapos ang pamamahagi ng lahat ng lupang saklaw ng CARP bago matapos ang aking termino kaya’t natutuwa ako na masigasig ang DAR sa pamimigay ng mga titulo,” the President said.
 
Marcos said that, since 2023, the Department of Agrarian Reform has been able to distribute 90,000 land titles, which is 40,000 more than the initial target to distribute 50,000 titles for the year.

• Marcos wants to complete distribution of agri land to beneficiaries by 2028

“Umaasa ako na dadami o dodoble pa sa taon ng 2024. Ang mahigit na 2,000 titulo na ipamamahagi natin ngayon dito sa Davao ay magandang simula — at simula lamang — para sa 2024,” he said.

“Ang pamimigay ng titulo sa ating mga magsasaka ay unang hakbang lamang sa pagkamit ng kanilang kalayaan sa kahirapan. Ang kalayaan sa gutom at kahirapan ng magsasaka, at ang pagsiguro ng sapat na pagkain para sa bawat Pilipino ay hindi makakamit sa pamamagitan ng pagpapamahagi ng titulo o lupa lamang," Marcos added.
 
In the same speech, the President also assured attendees that his administration will continue to support agrarian reform beneficiaries by providing them access to financial assistance, farm-to-market roads, seedlings, fertilizers and farming equipment.
 
“Ang Agrarian Reform Act po ay hindi lamang nagbibigay ng titulo ng lupa. Patuloy ang suporta pagkatapos dahil nga kung wala namang suporta ang ating mga magsasaka kahit na may hawak na titulo, ay hindi naman kayang magsaka ‘yan,” the President said.

• Marcos wants to complete distribution of agri land to beneficiaries by 2028

The President’s visit to Davao City comes after his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte launched a series of tirades against Marcos and advocated for Mindanao to secede from the Philippines.

• Marcos meeting skips discussion on Duterte secession talks: DILG chief

In his speech the President said that he was glad to return to the Dutertes’ bailiwick Davao City, which he says has given him a lot of special memories and lifelong friendships.
 
“Marami ring mga pagkakaibigang panghabambuhay ang nabuo rito, hindi maaaring mawala sa aking puso ang pagmamahal ng Davao [at] sa mga tao rito,” he said.