By Mary Joy Cavañas
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conducted its ceremonial distribution of Electronic Titles (E-Titles) and certificate or condonation with release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) to over 7,000 Farmer-beneficiaries and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from five provinces across Western Visayas—Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo—that was held at Pototan Astrodome on January 12, 2026.
DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III personally led the ceremonial distribution, granting farmer-beneficiaries full ownership, possession, and control of their individual farmlands.
Farmlot distribution included the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project which aims to help beneficiaries in securing land ownerships and improve their respective quality of life. The distribution covered a total of 13,500 hectares of land wherein 6,472 titles were distributed to 5,837 ARBs. The SPLIT Project’s key purpose is to speed up the process of Collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CCLOA) conversion, turning into E-Titles which will be given to farmer beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The breakdown of the SPLIT Project’s farmlot distribution composed of the following:
* 640 hectares with 463 titles given to 461 ARBs in Aklan
* 4,270 hectares with 1,108 titles given to 1,107 ARBs in Antique
* 4,250 hectares with 2,248 titles given to 2,056 ARBs in Capiz;
* 1,310 hectares with 804 titles given to 496 ARBs in Guimaras
* 3,030 hectares with 1,849 titles given to 1,717 ARBs
Additionally, about 1,803 CoCRoMs were distributed to 1,762 ARBs in Guimaras, which covered a total land area of 2,162 hectares. Through this, the beneficiaries will be relieved from their debt which amounted to ₱87.51 million under the CARP.
The said initiative was made possible through the programs under the Republic Act No. 11953 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. which is a law that was signed on July 7 2023, which frees more than 600,000 farmers from debt. The condonation of unpaid amortizations covers the principal, interests, penalties, and surcharges to free the ARBs from financial burden and mortgage obligations on their lands.
Beneficiaries also expressed gratitude for DAR and President Marcos, for having been selected in the distribution of E-Titles and CoCRoMs, which are big help for their respective livelihood.
Meanwhile, the farmlot distribution ceremony was attended by DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, DAR-Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) Usec. Jesry Palmares, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Vice Governor Nathalie Ann Debuque, DAR personnel, local officials, among others.
