JOMALIG, Quezon — A renewed sense of hope was brought to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Jomalig as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conducted its “Serbisyong PaanDAR: Arangkadang Agraryo para sa mga Benepisyaryo” program. The initiative forms part of the government’s continuing implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), alongside the World Bank-supported Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.

During the activity, DAR distributed SPLIT e-titles and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to qualified beneficiaries. These documents serve as legal proof of land ownership while also granting relief from unpaid land amortization, effectively freeing farmers from long-standing financial burdens tied to their land.

Officials emphasized that the distribution goes beyond paperwork. For many farmers, land titles represent dignity, security, and recognition—an acknowledgment of their role as stewards of agricultural land. With ownership comes the potential for stability, access to credit, and long-term investment in productivity.

The program was also attended by representatives from the Provincial Government of Quezon, reinforcing the message that agrarian reform is not only about distributing land but also about creating opportunities for farmers to improve their lives and secure a better future for their families.

However, while land ownership is a crucial milestone, it is not the final solution. Many agrarian reform beneficiaries continue to face challenges such as lack of capital, limited access to markets, vulnerability to climate change, and insufficient post-harvest support. Without addressing these structural issues, ownership alone may not fully translate into economic progress.

This development opens a broader conversation about the true meaning of agrarian reform. Is it fulfilled once land is distributed, or does it require continuous support to ensure that farmers can truly thrive?

If farmers already own the land, what more must be done to ensure that ownership becomes real prosperity?

(Larawan mula: Romano Franco C. Talaga / Facebook)