THE national government has distributed e-certificates to approximately 7,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte, relieving them from monthly land amortization payments.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the distribution on December 5 at the Panabo City Multi-purpose Gym.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), 9,058 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) were given to 6,948 ARBs in the region’s first batch. These certificates cover 10,181 hectares of agricultural land, relieving ARBs of ₱527.7 million in debt incurred from 1988 to July 2023.
In the initial distribution, 2,337 COCROMs were given to 1,731 ARBs in Davao del Norte, covering 2,077 hectares and forgiving ₱195.7 million in debt.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agrarian Reform-Davao Region (DAR-Davao) distributed 4,901 COCROMs to 3,614 ARBs in Davao de Oro, covering 5,031 hectares and forgiving ₱256.1 million in debt.
In Davao Oriental, 1,606 ARBs received 1,820 COCROMs, covering 3,072 hectares and totaling ₱75.8 million in condoned debts.
DAR chief agrarian reform program officer Rosario S. Maala said these COCROMs are part of a broader effort, with a total of 11,549 certificates benefiting 9,152 ARBs across the region, amounting to a combined debt relief of ₱678.1 million.
A second distribution batch will take place on December 11 for ARBs in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao City.
Additionally, 774 ARBs have received support services, including farming equipment like tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems, totaling an investment of ₱13.01 million. DEF
