"You earned it. Guard it with pride. Your land is your family’s security": Kalinga Vice-Governor Odiem reminds Cordilleran farmers awarded of land titles

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Vice Governor Dave Q. Odiem underscored the importance of land ownership as a reward for years of sacrifice and hard work, urging Cordilleran farmers to cherish the lands awarded to them through the government's agrarian reform program.

Speaking during the Regional Distribution of Electronic Land Titles (E-Titles), Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), and the turnover of Farm Machinery, Equipment, Tools, and Subsidies (FME) at the Kalinga Sports Center, Odiem paid tribute to agrarian reform beneficiaries whose perseverance had finally led them to owning the land they cultivate.

Despite working tirelessly behind the scenes with little recognition, farmers have long served as the backbone of the country's food security and rural economy. Odiem said the certificates they received symbolize not only land ownership but also the government's fulfillment of its promise of genuine agrarian reform.

"Para ken dagitoy mannalon tayo, dagitoy nga daga... you earned it. Guard it with pride, for it represents not only your ownership of land but your place in the government's promise of genuine agrarian reform. Daytoy ket seguridad yo ken panakaipatungpal ti nabayag nga arapaap yo nga maaddaan ti bukod nga talon," he said.

The vice-governor emphasized that owning land provides security for farming families and ensures that future generations will inherit a legacy built through years of dedication and sacrifice.

Odiem also highlighted the significance of the Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), saying the initiative frees farmer-beneficiaries from the long-standing burden of unpaid land amortization, allowing them to focus on improving their farms instead of worrying about debt.

"Daytoy nga activity ket haan laeng nga panangited kadagiti documents. Isu daytoy ti panakaipatungpal ti nabayag nga arapaap dagitoy nga mannalon nga maaddaan ti bukod da nga daga. This CoCRoMs removes the long-standing financial burden from our farmers," Odiem added.

The vice governor further described the distribution of farm machinery, equipment, tools, and agricultural subsidies as an investment in the future of Philippine agriculture, saying that secure land tenure combined with modern farming support would help increase productivity, strengthen food security, and improve the lives of farming communities.

The event, led by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), gathered agrarian reform beneficiaries from Apayao, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and the host province of Kalinga in celebration of another milestone in advancing land reform and agricultural development in the Cordillera.

During the activity, DAR distributed 625 electronic land titles and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to 647 agrarian reform beneficiaries. It also awarded 1,005 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs) to 861 beneficiaries, condoning nearly P9.9 million in land amortization loans.

In addition, six Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) received P2.19 million worth of farm machinery, equipment, tools, and agricultural subsidies under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP).

For the farmer-beneficiaries, the event represented far more than the distribution of legal documents and farm equipment. It marked the fulfillment of a lifelong dream—to finally own the land they had cultivated for years—and gave them renewed hope for a more secure future for their families while strengthening agricultural productivity across the Cordillera.