Eastern Visayas farmers receive land titles

MANILA, Philippines — A 77-year-old farmer in Catbalogan City, Samar can finally claim as his own the agricultural lot he has been farming for over 32 years. 

This after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rewarded Francisco Asuncion of Catbalogan City with a land title, with the farmer joining more than 5,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas who have received the same during the distribution of land titles and support services.

During the distribution, Asuncion thanked the government for providing lands to landless farmers and various services to strengthen their production. 

Roque Meronio, a 52-year-old farmer who also received a land title, also recognized the government’s to bring development to provinces through stronger public infrastructure.

Meronio shared that the completed uni-bridge projects in Brgy. Sigo and Barral II, Calbayog City have been helpful to the community, particularly in transporting agricultural products and sick people. 

Marcos turned over four completed PBBM bridges (Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka) to Southern Leyte, Calbayog City, and Eastern Samar with a total budget of P78.172 million.

Eastern Samar Vice Governor Maricar Sison-Goteesan also joined farmers in expressing her gratitude to Malacañang as well as Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III for giving farmers the opportunity to finally own the lands they have been farming for years.

She also urged the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) to value the opportunity given by the government. In addition to the distribution of land titles, the president led the distribution of P509.45 million worth of support services intervention to ARB organizations and communities such as farm-to-market roads, PBBM bridges, irrigation projects, and farm machineries. 

In addition to distribution of land titles, Marcos said farm-to-market roads are being constructed in Cabarasan Daku-San Agustin and San Agustin-Cangumbang both in Palo, Leyte, Brgy. Kawayan-Sto. Niño and Crossing San Roque-Sitio Kulapniton, both in Tacloban City.

He added the government has also provided more than 2,000 machineries and other equipment worth P10.28 million to 1,694 beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas.

“Dagdag po pa rito, sinisiguro ng DAR na may pautang pang-agrikultura na maaaring lapitan ng ating mga magsasaka para makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo at mapaunlad ang kanilang kabuhayan,” Marcos said.