DAR to give 25,237 Western Visayas farmers individual land titles

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Agrarian Reform in Western Visayas (DAR-Western Visayas) aims to distribute land titles covering about 40,000 hectares of agricultural land in 2026. The distribution is part of an 89,000-hectare regional target to be completed by December 2028.

DAR-Western Visayas acting Regional Director Anthony B. Arostique said the 2026 target is part of the region’s remaining land acquisition and distribution workload under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.

The World Bank-supported project aims to convert collective land titles into individual electronic titles.

“[O]ut of the 89,000 hectares, the target of Region 6 is to be completed by December 2028. For this year only, 40,000 [hectares will be] our target,” Arostique said.

The World Bank approved a USD 370 million loan for SPLIT on June 26, 2020. Nationwide, the project covers about 1.37 million hectares held under collective titles and targets about 1.14 million agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Collective titles were largely issued in the 1990s to speed up land distribution, with the intention of later subdividing them into individual titles, according to the World Bank.

Arostique said about 25,237 agrarian reform beneficiaries are expected to benefit from the registration and distribution of 2,746 collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CCLOAs) scheduled for 2026.

Iloilo has the largest share of the 40,000-hectare regional target, with about 14,199 hectares covered by 1,107 CCLOAs for 10,517 beneficiaries.

Antique follows with 12,394 hectares covered by 127 CCLOAs for 5,647 beneficiaries. Capiz has 6,951 hectares covered by 745 CCLOAs for 4,951 beneficiaries. Aklan has 3,338 hectares covered by 512 CCLOAs for 2,477 beneficiaries. Guimaras has 2,117 hectares covered by 255 CCLOAs for 1,645 beneficiaries.

Arostique said the remaining distribution targets for 2027 and 2028 will complete the region’s 89,000-hectare obligation by the end of 2028.

He earlier said the region was finalizing the remaining balance of landholdings covered by notices of coverage issued through July 2014.

The DAR regional chief cited Republic Act 6657, as amended by Republic Act 9700, which sets a definite period for the department to issue notices of coverage for private agricultural lands.

Lands without notices of coverage within the prescribed period would not be covered unless Congress authorizes further action, he said.

SPLIT involves subdividing CCLOAs into individual land titles.

The agency said the project is intended to give agrarian reform beneficiaries legally secure individual land ownership.

About 90% of the targeted landholdings under the project in the region have undergone field validation, according to the regional office.

Regular distribution and support programs

For 2026, DAR-Western Visayas also set a target of about 1,034 hectares for distribution under its regular land acquisition and distribution activities.

Arostique said the figure is part of a larger pipeline of landholdings for which the Land Bank of the Philippines is still determining values and issuing the corresponding certificates of deposit before distribution can proceed.

The regional office also set targets for land valuation and surveys as part of the land acquisition and distribution process.

DAR-Western Visayas placed the 2026 land valuation target at 652 hectares, alongside about 1,600 hectares of pipeline landholdings. The current distribution figure cited was 1,436 hectares.

Arostique said the department’s other major priorities are agrarian reform beneficiaries’ development, support services, and legal assistance.

Under the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program, the region is targeting 10,525 beneficiaries for training and services. Of these, 5,910 beneficiaries will be given access to credit and microfinance.

The region is also targeting 100 accredited organizations for support services.

The support services component includes social infrastructure development, organizational strengthening, enterprise development, microfinance and credit assistance, and climate-resilient crop productivity support.

DAR-Western Visayas is also preparing an agrarian trade fair and related activities at West Visayas State University on Oct. 6. About 25 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations are expected to showcase products from the region’s five provinces.

Arostique said the fair will feature processed products from Aklan, calamansi- and coconut-based products from Capiz, and mango-based products from Negros.

The regional office is also seeking additional personnel for its legal and administrative work.

DAR-Western Visayas officials said the office has five chief legal positions, while Attorney IV positions are assigned to the provinces.

A proposed organizational optimization would increase the number of lawyer positions, the officials added.

The department also plans to post vacancies in November covering Salary Grades 9 to 18.

Arostique said the future structure of DAR was also discussed during congressional deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget.

He said the department would need to adjust its structure as its priorities evolve, including through government streamlining and workforce optimization.

“We need to upgrade the structure of the Department of Agrarian Reform in such a way that it will be relevant to the priorities being chosen,” Arostique said.