THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Monday reported distributing 2,298 individual property titles covering 4,863 hectares of farmland in Samar and Northern Samar.
The properties were granted to 2,396 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under DAR’s Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, which expedites land ownership by providing farmers with clear, legally recognized titles.
Among the beneficiaries, 1,829 hailed from Samar island, while 567 were from Northern Samar province.
DAR Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Rodolfo Castil Jr., representing Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, presided over the land distribution ceremony at Samar State University in Catbalogan City.
“Let us value what the government has given us and never forget our responsibilities. That is the only thing the government and those who worked hard to make this possible ask in return,” Castil said in his message to the beneficiaries.
For some ARBs, it marked the end of years of uncertainty.
Conrada Agte, 71, from Lope de Vega, Northern Samar, became emotional upon receiving her land title after over 30 years of waiting.
Rolando Danday, 42, a father of three from Majaba Island, Catbalogan City, described his land title as “a beautiful Christmas gift“ and a long-awaited blessing.
DAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu said the land distribution guarantees a more accessible and faster delivery of agrarian reform benefits to Filipinos.
It is also part of government’s efforts to end local communist armed conflict, Yu added, noting that DAR is addressing the roots of rural poverty and pushing for inclusive and sustainable development in the countryside.
Jana Dumaliang, Region 8 Land Registration Authority-Registry of Deeds regional director, said their office was continueing to work overtime to ensure the timely issuance of e-titles to ARBs.
