A total of 213,285 beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) have been freed of P11.63 billion in unpaid land amortization covering 283,040 hectares of agricultural land nationwide as of April, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the milestone represented 35 percent of the 610,054 target farmer-beneficiaries.
“We are confident we can emancipate all remaining beneficiaries from agrarian debts by the end of Marcos Jr.’s administration in 2028,” Estrella said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act in 2023, allocating P57.6 billion to write off debts, including interests, penalties, and surcharges involving over 1.17 million hectares of CARP lands.
Estrella said the law has significantly eased the burden on farmers and even allowed them to reinvest funds previously allotted for amortization into farm inputs or other livelihood ventures.
Moreover, the law has prevented the illegal sale or mortage of CARP lands, a violation against Republic Act 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
