Duterte distributes over 300 land titles to Quezon farmers

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday led the distribution of 387 land titles to farmers in Mulanay, Quezon stressing the need for continuous land reform in the country.

“[I want] to resume land reform because it is really needed,” Duterte said speaking before farmer beneficiaries in Liwasang Alfaro G. Aguirre, Mulanay, Quezon.

“Ngayon itong mga titled land na medyo hindi productive or ‘yung sa gobyerno (These titled lands that are not productive or owned by the government), I do not see any reason why we should hang to it. Or itong issue ng land reform, hindi mo mapairal (Or this issue of land reform, you can’t implement it),” he added.

The full implementation of the land reform program is one of Duterte’s campaign promises.

The distribution of land titles is a result of continuous dialogues and consultations and meetings of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with affected landowners.

Since Duterte assumed office, DAR Quezon II has had two land title distributions already, first on October 25, 2017 in San Narciso, Quezon where 1,270 hectares of land were distributed to 434 farmer beneficiaries and on April 18, 2018 also in San Narciso, Quezon, a total of 780 hectares were distributed to 510 farm beneficiaries (585 land titles).