DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — More than 5,000 farmers are set to benefit from the loan condonation program initiated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

Over 5,000 Negros Oriental farmers benefit from loan condonation program, which is part of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (Republic Act No. 11953) that writes off principal loans, unpaid amortizations, and interest incurred by ARBs under the government land reform programs.

Last week, Senator Imelda Josefa Remedios 'Imee' Marcos-Manotoc and Negros Oriental governor Manuel Sagarbarria led the distribution of e-titles and certificates of loan condonation to farmer beneficiaries. DAR agrarian reform officer Manuel Galon claimed that more than ₱692 million loan debts in the province were condoned in 2024.

Galon announced that 6,612 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgages (CoCRoMs) were distributed to 5,321 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) since July the current year, covering 7,605.83 hectares of agricultural land.

DAR-Negros Oriental is targeting 40,000 hectares of agricultural land to be covered by the CoCRoM project this 2025.

“The release of the CoCRoM is according to the land title and not necessarily per ARB, as some beneficiaries may be holding two or more CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Awards),” Galon noted while pointing out that the program would help farmers become more productive and appreciate the value of the land granted to them by the government.

Several farmers in the province, who had been burdened by their debts, have abandoned, leased or sold their lands, but are now returning after learning about the loan condonation.

Galon, however, reminded the ARBs that they must first meet certain requirements to qualify for CoCRoM.