THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Sunday said it distributed P5.49 million worth of farm machinery and equipment to beneficiaries and farmer organizations in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon).
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Kazel Celeste led the turnover on July 21 in Lucena. The distribution was part of DAR’s agrarian reform program, which also included the awarding of certificates of land ownership, certificates of condonation and release of mortgage, and electronic titles under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project.
Batangas received P1.98 million worth of equipment, including a 40-horsepower, four-wheel-drive tractor with rotary tiller and disc plow, three motorcycles with carriers, weighing scales and powered pressure washers.
Cavite got a 50-horsepower, four-wheel tractor worth P1.47 million.
Quezon I was given a motorcycle with sidecar and a hand tractor worth P300,000, while Quezon II received a multi-tiller, ride-on mini combine harvester, mechanical rice transplanter, grass cutters and knapsack sprayers worth P1.75 million.
The assistance aims to help farmers increase production, reduce labor costs and improve farming efficiency, Celeste said, adding that agrarian reform goes beyond land distribution by equipping farmers with resources to improve productivity and livelihoods.
DAR said the combined distribution of farm machinery, land titles, and debt condonation certificates reflects its continuing effort to build a more productive and resilient agriculture sector and strengthen the country’s food security.