15/08/2024
During the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) held last July in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III shared a tale about a father, a son, and their horse. In the story, the father-and-son duo who rode their horse were criticized by people for being cruel to the animal. However, after they took turns riding and walking, and even abstaining from riding the horse altogether, they still received criticism. The moral of this story, Sec. Estrella said, was being able to take a stand amidst the disapproval of surrounding people.
“So our beloved President decided and took a stand, and that no matter what others may say, he took a stand not to collect the debts of agrarian reform beneficiaries. This is the decision of our beloved President,” the Secretary said in Filipino.
It was this decision that led to the eventual enactment and implementation of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which condones all unpaid outstanding loans, amortizations, interests, penalties, and surcharges arising from the award of agricultural lands to qualified farmers under the CARP and related agrarian laws. It also assumes the obligation of paying the remaining debt to landowners of beneficiaries who were granted lands under the Voluntary Land Transfer and Direct Payment Scheme.
READ: Pinakaunang pamamahagi ng Certificate of Condonation para sa pinatawad na utang ng mga agrarian reform beneficiary, ginanap sa Pangasinan https://bit.ly/FirstCOCROMAwardingintheCountry