President Marcos on Thursday, Sept. 19, assured beneficiaries of the country's agrarian reform program that the government would not abandon them in their hopes of having their own lands.
During the distribution of E-titles and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Iloilo, Marcos said the government is aware of all the challenges that they are facing in acquiring lands that they are tilling.
"Pero ito ang pangako namin–hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Lahat ng ito ay bahagi ng mas malaking layunin na tiyakin na walang magsasakang maiiwan (It is our promise that we will not abandon you. It is part of our advocacy that no farmer will be left behind)," he said.
"Kaya po sa araw na ito, hindi lang tayo nagdiriwang ng mga numero. Ang tunay na selebrasyon ay ang inyong tagumpay—ang bawat pamilyang may lupa, ang bawat magsasakang hindi na mangungupahan pa (So today, we do not just celebrate numbers. The real celebration is your sucess—that every family has own lands and every farmer is no longer renting a land)," he added.
Marcos on Thursday distributed e-titles and CLOAs, as part of the government's efforts to give away 2,643.5 hectares of agricultural land to 1,932 ARBs in Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras.
The land distribution is expected to improve the living conditions of farmers.
Of the 1,932 ARBs gathered during the event at Passi Arena in Iloilo, 1,725 received E-titles, while 207 received CLOAs.
The President acknowledged the warm welcome from the people of Iloilo—the "Heart of the Philippines."
"Kapag sinabi natin na ang Iloilo ay ang 'Heart of the Philippines,' hindi ito isang simpleng slogan lamang. Ang totoo, ramdam na ramdam ko po ang inyong mainit na pagtanggap sa aming lahat, (If we say that Iloilo is the Heart of the Philippines, it's not simply a slogan. It is true as I felt your warm welcome to us),"he said.
The Chief Executive emphasized that every E-title and CLOA distributed would grant ARBs freedom from debt, assurance of their welfare, and the full capacity to plan for a better future.
He also recalled his last visit in December, where he listened to the farmers’ needs, as he affirmed that the distributed lands would be the long-term solution to their problems.
“Ang bawat titulo ang ating pinagkaloob... Ang bawat titulo ay nagbibigay ng kalayaan sa ating mga magsasaka (Each title that is award will give freedom to the farmers," he said.
"Kalayaan mula sa mga pagkakautang, kalayaan [na] magkaroon ng tiyak na kinabukasan para sa kanilang pamilya, at kalayaan na makapagplano para mas maunlad ang inyong mga bukas (Freedom from debt and freedom to have a good future for the family and to plan for a good future)," he added.