CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) – More than 3,000 farmers in Pampanga benefitted from the Handog ng Pangulo: Financial Assistance to Farm Laborers and Distribution of Titles, a national government initiative at speeds up land distribution and boosts agricultural livelihoods.
The program was carried out through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local government units, and private stakeholders, who worked together to provide integrated services to eligible farmer-beneficiaries.
A key feature was the Handog Titulo Program, an annual DENR project that awards land patents under Memorandum Circular No. 2019-04, which declares September as “Handog Titulo Month”.
This year, a total of 520 land titles were granted to qualified beneficiaries across regions, including 188 residential free patents, 181 agricultural free patents, 86 special patents, and 65 deeds of sale.
The DSWD also distributed P10,000 financial assistance each to 2,904 farmers and farm laborers from the province’s fourth district, while the provincial government provided family food packs to further support the daily needs of farmer households.
In addition to financial and land assistance, farmers were given seedlings and plants to promote agricultural sustainability and strengthen food security in local communities.
“Mamimigay din ang DENR ng mga punla o seedlings para sa inyong lahat na narito ngayon. Makikita ninyo ang mga ito na naka-display sa labas. Nawa’y itanim ninyo ang mga ito nang may malasakit at pananagutan para sa kalikasan,” President mentioned.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the distribution, joined by Cabinet secretaries and local officials, highlighting his administration’s commitment to the agricultural sector.
“Ang mga titulong ito ay pagkilala sa inyong karapatan na magmay-ari ng sariling lupa. Layon ng programang ito na palakasin ang inyong kabuhayan at partisipasyon sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan,” Marcos said.
The President also reassured the farmers of his administration’s continuous efforts to streamline government processes and strengthen agricultural support systems.
“Makakaasa kayo na patuloy nating pinapabilis at inaayos ang mga proseso upang mapangalagaan ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino. Lahat ng ito ay ginagawa natin upang masiguro ang masaganang bukas para sa ating mga magsasaka at kanilang pamilya,” he added.
The event reflects the government’s whole-of-nation approach in advancing agricultural development, improving food security, and strengthening the welfare of farm laborers nationwide. (MJSC/MAGP, PIA Region 3 – Pampanga GIP)
