BAGUIO CITY —The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) assured the public that the agrarian reform program will remain steadfast in its fight against the conversion of agricultural lands, following the recent signing of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, Malacañang said over the weekend.

According to the statement, DAR Undersecretary Luis Pangulayan emphasized that the program’s mandate is to safeguard arable tracts of land from being repurposed for non-agricultural activities.

With the DAR’s commitment to upholding the provisions outlined in the 1987 Constitution, the agency will continue to enforce the comprehensive agrarian reform program.

Under Republic Act 6657, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), Congress will continue to allocate funds to agencies responsible for implementing agrarian reform.

DAR, which was established in the 1950s, plays a pivotal role in fulfilling this mandate.

“Kahit na matapos na po iyong huling ektarya ng lupa at nabigay na natin under the agrarian reform program, patuloy pa rin po ang proteksyon ng mga lupang iyan dahil sa usapin ng food sufficiency na nakatali sa food security. In the end, national security. Hindi po natin pwedeng ihiwalay iyan, lahat po ng bansa sa buong mundo ay kinikilala po ang connection between food security, human security and national security,” Pangulayan said.

The agency aligns its objectives with the administration’s vision, which aims to empower farmers through enhanced agricultural productivity, profitability, and rural development.

In an earlier statement, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said that agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) are consistently being informed about the 10-year restriction on selling the lands provided to them by the government.

“Ayon sa batas, kailangan ‘pag naiabot sa kanila ang kanilang titulo, kailangan maghintay sila ng sampung taon bago nila maibenta ang lupa sa iba,” Estrella said.

“Sapagkat ‘pag nalaman po ng Agrarian Reform na kanilang ibinenta ang lupa nila na hindi pa lumalampas ang sampung taon, babawiin po ng pamahalaan at ibibigay natin sa ibang beneficiary ang lupa po,” Estrella added.

The new agrarian reform law would condone around P57 billion debt incurred by more than 600,000 ARBs tilling around 1.7 million hectares nationwide.

“Mas magiging magastos pa sa pamahalaan ang mangolekta kaysa ang ibigay na lang natin na libre ang lupa. Kaya hindi naman unfair. Makikinabang naman silang lahat,” Estrella said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who serves as the Agriculture chief, signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act on July 7, recognizing the need for comprehensive support which is expected to result in sustainable farms and increased incomes for farmers..

The President acknowledged the importance of providing farmers with access to credit facilities and support services such as farm inputs, equipment, and facilities, along with the construction of more farm-to-market roads, aside from free land distribution.

“Ngayon, kaya’t isinama maliwanag na maliwanag at binibigyan ng halaga ang patuloy na suporta upang magkaroon ng pautang para sa ating mga beneficiaries, upang may technical support. Meron tayong ibinibigay na pagkukuhanan ng binhi, pagkukuhanan ng murang-mura na fertilizer. Lahat ‘yan ay ating ginagawa para maging matagumpay naman ang kanilang pagsaka nung kanilang bagong natituluhang lupa,” the President stated.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), a distribution ceremony for land titles was held at the Newtown Hotel in Baguio City on July 7.

A total of 392 Electronic Titles (E-Titles) were granted to 402 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), covering a vast expanse of 431.6 hectares.

This distribution was part of the National Simultaneous Certificate of Land Ownership (CLOA) and E-Title Distribution.

DAR-CAR regional director Samuel S. Solomero highlighted the objectives of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, stating that it aims to liberate agrarian reform beneficiaries from the burden of debt imposed by the government through the Department of Agrarian Reform.

He said the New Agrarian Emancipation Act represents a significant step toward empowering farmers and fostering a more equitable agricultural sector, and by relieving farmers of their debts and emphasizing comprehensive support, this legislation promises a brighter future for Filipino farmers.

He also said that the President’s unwavering dedication to the welfare of ARBs underscores the commitment to implementing this act and ensuring the prosperity of the farming community.