DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has wiped out P178.3 million in debt for 3,161 agrarian reform beneficiaries from Southern Davao. The landmark relief, released during a stakeholders’ forum here on June 22, 2026, is expected to free up household incomes and ignite farm-level economic activity across the region.
Breaking the Chains of Debt
Each farmer received a Certificate of Condonation with Release of Mortgage, officially erasing decades‑old unpaid amortizations and interest. The condonation covers 1,507 beneficiaries from Davao City, 534 from Davao del Sur, and 350 from Davao Occidental. Removing this financial burden allows families to channel their earnings into seeds, tools, and daily needs.
The relief stems from the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, signed into law to liberate farmers from crushing land‑related debts. DAR Region XI Director Joseph H. Orilla described the intervention as a direct investment in rural economic stability. When farmers are free from debt, they become active participants in local markets, purchasing inputs and services that stimulate the broader economy.
Securing Land Tenure with E‑Titles
DAR also distributed 104 Electronic Land Titles covering nearly 196 hectares to 239 beneficiaries. These digital titles provide ironclad proof of ownership, making it easier for farmers to access formal credit and government programs. With secure tenure, farmers are more inclined to make long‑term improvements to their land.
The shift from paper to electronic titles reduces the risk of fraud and speeds up future transactions. For financial institutions, an E‑Title is a credible collateral document that can unlock affordable loans. This administrative modernization is a quiet but powerful engine of rural economic growth, giving farmers the confidence to treat their land as a lasting business asset.
Equipment and Credit Boost Productivity
Beyond debt relief and land titles, the agency turned over P4.5 million worth of farm machinery and equipment. Mechanized tools cut harvesting time and post‑harvest losses, increasing the volume of produce that reaches markets. Higher productivity directly translates into higher farm incomes and more stable food supply chains.
DAR also extended P1.7 million in cooperative loans, P125,400 in credit assistance, and P1.38 million in relief aid to agrarian reform beneficiary organizations. These funds enable cooperatives to purchase inputs in bulk, store crops properly, and negotiate better prices with buyers. Access to working capital is often the missing link between subsistence farming and profitable agribusiness.
Farmers as Pillars of Food Security
Field Operations Office Undersecretary Atty. Kazel C. Celeste, representing the DAR Secretary, called the farmers modern‑day heroes whose labor sustains the nation. She emphasized that investing in their welfare is essential to safeguarding the country’s food supply. When farmers thrive, the entire value chain—from transport to retail—benefits.
Digos City Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas echoed this sentiment, calling the forum a vital event that recognizes the critical role of agriculture in national development. The combined package of debt relief, secure land titles, and modern equipment is designed to create a self‑reinforcing cycle of prosperity. DAR’s goal is to transform agrarian reform areas from aid‑dependent communities into engines of rural economic growth.
