BOAC, Marinduque — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has announced the extension of its land titling project in Marinduque until 2027, aiming to boost rural equity and agricultural productivity across the island province.
The Support for Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, funded by the World Bank, was initially slated for completion in 2024 but has been extended due to delays brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now in its fifth year, the project plays a central role in providing agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with individual land titles, replacing collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).
“Ang proyektong ito ay World Bank (WB) funded na inumpisahan noong 2020 na dapat ay nagtapos noong 2024, ngunit kanila itong ipinagpatuloy dahil sa pansamantalang nahinto dulot ng pandemya kaya kanila itong pinalawig pa hanggang sa taong 2027,” said Engr. Virgilio Laggui, Officer-in-Charge Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, during the Kapihan sa PIA forum held by the Philippine Information Agency on June 5.
SPLIT is backed by a ₱24-billion national budget, targeting the subdivision of over 1.3 million hectares of land and benefiting more than 1.36 million agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) nationwide. In Marinduque, approximately 10,000 ARB are projected to gain from the program, which seeks to formalize land ownership through individualized titles.
According to Laggui, shifting from collective to individual land titles empowers farmers with clear legal ownership of specific land parcels, thereby enhancing their capacity to make decisions and invest in their own land.
“This move aims to promote equity and social justice among our ARB and reduce rural poverty by enhancing agricultural productivity,” he noted.
Beyond land titling, DAR is also implementing various support services for ARB under the SPLIT project, including Social Infrastructure Building (SIB), Enterprise Development and Economic Support (EDES), Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP) – which includes the provision of farm equipment and machineries. Additional assistance will be channeled through Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF) distribution activities.
These components are designed to ensure that ARB not only gain legal land ownership but also access the tools and resources necessary to succeed.
Laggui also shared that land acquisition and distribution in Marinduque have reached 99.9 percent completion, with current efforts now centered on post-distribution support to maximize the productivity of awarded lands.
He further emphasized DAR’s coordination with partner agencies such as the Land Registration Authority (LRA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to streamline the land formalization process.
The SPLIT project remains a flagship initiative under the Philippine government’s comprehensive agrarian reform agenda, envisioned to transform rural areas through secure land tenure and inclusive development.
“This is not just about titling—it’s about giving our farmers a stronger stake in the future of agriculture and in the nation’s development,” Laggui said. — With reports from Dennis Pio Nebrejo and Ace Sapit, Marinduquenews.com
