Marcos distributes land titles, ambulances in Western Visayas

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

PASSI CITY, ILOILO — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local governments in Western Visayas on Thursday, Sept. 19, at the City of Passi Arena.

A total of 2,588 land titles were distributed, including 2,337 electronic titles (e-Titles) and 251 Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs), benefiting 1,932 ARBs from Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras. The titles covered a total land area of 2,643 hectares.

“Ang bawat titulo ay nagbibigay ng kalayaan sa ating mga magsasaka—kalayaan mula sa mga pagkakautang, kalayaan [na] magkaroon ng tiyak na kinabukasan para sa kanilang pamilya, at kalayaan na makapagplano para mas maunlad ang inyong mga bukas,” Marcos said.

The president vowed his administration’s unwavering support for farmers, stressing that no one will be left behind.

“Pero ito ang pangako namin—hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Lahat ng ito ay bahagi ng mas malaking layunin na tiyakin na walang magsasakang maiiwan.”

He added, “Kaya po sa araw na ito, hindi lang tayo nagdiriwang ng mga numero. Ang tunay na selebrasyon ay ang inyong tagumpay—ang bawat pamilyang may lupa, ang bawat magsasakang hindi na mangungupahan pa.”

The land distribution breakdown included 617 ARBs in Aklan, 74 in Antique, 524 in Capiz, 18 in Guimaras, and 699 in Iloilo.

The land titles were generated from new lands and through the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project, which aims to expedite the processing and subdivision of collective CLOAs into individual titles or e-Titles.

IMPROVED HEALTHCARE ACCESS

In addition to land titles, Marcos handed over 51 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to provincial governments in Western Visayas to improve healthcare access in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Negros Occidental received 19 vehicles, Iloilo 18, Antique 7, Aklan 4, and Guimaras 3. The vehicles, valued at P2.120 million each, were donated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under its Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program.

“It’s built upon our thrust to improve people’s access to health care, especially in vulnerable communities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” Marcos said.

He emphasized the importance of timely healthcare, noting, “Every second matters, and these vehicles will ensure that help will arrive without delay.”

Each PTV is equipped with essential medical equipment, including a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and other devices required by the Department of Health.

Since July, 416 PTVs have been distributed to local government units across the country, excluding the National Capital Region. Marcos also announced the approval of a P2 billion budget for the acquisition of 1,000 more PTVs to cover all cities and towns nationwide.

“We promise that one day, every town and city will be equipped with fully operational PTVs and medical responders on standby,” the president said.