The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributes land ownership documents, condones nearly P9.9 million in agrarian debts, and turns over farm support assistance to hundreds of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) on June 26, 2026, as Undersecretary (USEC) Jesry T. Palmares is formally adopted into the Kalinga community through a traditional tribal conferment.
The distribution activity at the Kalinga Sports Center benefited farmers from the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
DAR-CAR Regional Director Atty. Sheila B. Enciso presented the profiles of the land ownership documents, debt condonation certificates, and farm machinery and equipment distributed during the event. “Ang mga magsasaka na nandirito ay wala nang babayaran dahil sa mga COCROM certificates na inyong matatanggap,” she highlighted.
A total of 595 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and Electronic land titles (E-titles), covering 498.1684 hectares, were awarded to 643 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
DAR also distributed 1,012 Certificates of Condonation and Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to 859 ARBs, freeing them from agrarian debts amounting to P9,899,247.44 under the government’s debt condonation program.
Farm machinery, equipment, tools, and agricultural subsidies worth P2.194 million were likewise turned over to farmer organizations in Kalinga to help improve farm productivity and strengthen rural livelihoods.
USEC Palmares said the debt condonation program was made possible through the initiative of DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, who worked with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Congress, and the Senate to secure the passage of the law.
“Lahat kayo ay mahal ni Secretary. Itong programa, siya ang nakiusap kay President upang maibigay at mabayaran ang mga utang sa bangko. Siya ang nag-initiate kasama ang Pangulo, Kongreso, at Senado upang ma-condone ang mga utang,” Palmares said.
Palmares also assured the beneficiaries that additional support services would follow through government programs and foreign-assisted projects, particularly in the Cordillera. “Huwag ninyong ibenta ang mga lupa sapagkat ito ang inyong kinabukasan,” he said.
Moreover, USEC was formally welcomed into the Kalinga community through the Gammid, a traditional tribal rite signifying the acceptance of an esteemed individual as a member of a clan, pursuant to Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 2026-247. During the ceremony, he was bestowed the name “Wagiyon,” which refers to the traditional act of indicating or declaring ownership of parcels or vast tracts of land through horizontal and vertical arm movements.
In attendance are IFAD Country Director and Mission Leader Umit Mansiz, DAR Assistant Secretary Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson, DAR-CAR Regional personnel, DAR provincial officials, and Kalinga provincial officials, led by Congresswoman Caroline B. Agyao, MD, and Governor James S. Edduba.**Jessica Joy Fernando
