President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to continue his father’s legacy on land reforms.

In his speech, President Marcos said it was the aspiration of his father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., to award land titles to farmers who are working hard to feed Filipinos.

“Panahon pa ng aking ama noong nagsimula ang reporma sa lupa,” President Marcos said. “Nais niyang mapag-arian ng mga magsasaka ang lupang kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan,” he said.

Recognizing that reform programs did not solve the farmers’ predicaments in the past administrations, President Marcos said his government is prioritizing the release of mortgage for their land and certificate of land ownership awards to farmers.

“Ngunit sa ilang dekada ng programang ito, nakita ko po na hindi pa rin natin nasasagot ang mga suliranin ng mga magsasaka ,” the President pointed out. “Kaya po, atin agad binigyang prayoridad ang pagsasawalang bisa ng inyong utang sa lupa at ang pagpapabilis ng pagbibigay ng mga titulo dito nga ‘yung ating tinatawag na CLOA,” he added.

President Marcos urged agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to use their savings from payments of loans to procure their other needs and improve their plight.

Under the banner of Bagong Pilipinas, President Marcos vowed for a better future, stable agriculture and developed economy.

“Ang inyong naipon na ipambabayad sana sa mga ito, maaari ninyo nang gamitin sa ibang pangangailangan. Maaari na pong gamitin ito sa mga bagong kagamitan upang mas dumami pa ang ani at mas mapataas pa ang kalidad ng inyong kabuhayan,” the President said.

“Sa Bagong Pilipinas po ang pangarap natin—na sama-sama nating aabutin—ang magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan, matatag na agrikultura, at mas maunlad na ekonomiya.” | PND