DENR distributes 50 agricultural patents in Antique

SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources distributed 50 agricultural patents to beneficiaries in Antique during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat program on Sept. 14 at the Evelio B. Javier Gymnasium in the Binirayan Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista.

The patents were processed through the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Antique as part of the government’s land titling program.

Agricultural free patents are issued to qualified occupants of alienable and disposable agricultural public lands under the Public Land Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 11573, which seeks to provide greater land tenure security through administrative titling.

DENR said securing patents gives qualified beneficiaries formal rights over the agricultural land they occupy and cultivate, providing greater security for farmers and their families.

The 50 patents were distributed to beneficiaries from 10 municipalities in Antique.

Nine patents went to Tibiao, seven each to Bugasong and Laua-an, six to Patnongon, and five to Valderrama.

Four patents each went to Culasi and Sebaste, three each to Anini-y and Libertad, and two to Barbaza.

DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna attended the Antique program and delivered a message from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasizing the administration’s efforts to bring government services closer to communities.

“Isinasagawa natin ang nationwide na Handog ng Pangulo kung saan ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan, pambansa at lokal, ay naghahatid mismo sa inyo ng kanilang serbisyo. Kabilang dito ang mga serbisyong pangkalusugan at tulong sa trabaho at pangkabuhayan,” Cuna read.

Handog ng Pangulo was launched nationwide on Sept. 13, 2024, with simultaneous government assistance and services provided in 82 provinces as part of activities marking Marcos’ birthday.

The 2026 edition continued the government service caravan as Marcos marked his 69th birthday, bringing employment, livelihood, agricultural, health, education, social protection, and other services to communities across the country.

“Sapagkat para sa pangulo, ang pinakamahalagang handog sa araw na ito ay ang pagkakataong makapaglingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino,” DENR Acting Secretary Cuna said.

In Antique, the provincial government led the local implementation of the Handog ng Pangulo program, with national government agencies providing various services and forms of assistance.

Participating agencies included DENR-PENRO Antique, the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., Philippine Coconut Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Commission on Higher Education.

The Antique caravan also provided livelihood, agricultural, health, education, social protection, and other government services to residents in a single venue. (DENR-6)