Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III presented the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Fiscal Year 2025 budget to the House Committee on Appropriations, presided successively by Senior Committee Vice Chairperson Rep. Stella Quimbo and Vice Chairman Teodorico Haresco, Jr.
The proposed budget amounting to P11.101 billion represents a 29.4% increase from the previous year’s budget of P8.579 billion and is indicative of DAR’s intent to sustain the gains it achieved under its main program pillars: Land Distribution and Tenurial Security, Agrarian Justice Delivery, and Support Services.
Estrella highlighted to the members of the committee the DAR’s accomplishments in the past two years, citing 2023 and 2024 as banner years for the department.
Notably, DAR distributed 136,116 land titles across 164,088 hectares to 138,718 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), resolved 116,718 agrarian-related cases, and completed infrastructure projects, including 22 irrigation systems and 26 farm-to-market roads in 2024. Additionally, DAR provided training to 5,931 ARB organizations (ARBOs) and facilitated credit and microfinance access for 360 ARBOs and 16,052 ARBs.
Looking ahead, the Secretary outlined DAR’s 2024 plans, which include distributing 101,666 land titles and issuing 300,000 condonation certificates.
Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco, the principal sponsor of the DAR budget, said that “[in] the banner achievement of the first year of the Marcos administration, we salute you… Nakikita ko na sa Aklan mismo nakangiti ang mga farmers so I’m sure all over the country they have high hopes na matulungan na talaga finally ang mga rice farmers natin. Secretary, napakaganda ng performance mo in the last two years, biglang nakikita ang increasing thread of assistance so again maraming, maraming salamat.”
Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza, and Cagayan De Oro, 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also expressed strong support for the budget increase, stressing its importance for sustaining the momentum of the department’s agrarian reform programs.
Secretary Estrella emphasized that securing the requested budget will significantly advance the president’s promise to complete land distribution under agrarian reform by 2028
He also highlighted DAR’s collaboration with partner government agencies to achieve the goals of land distribution and food security, as committed to by the president.
The House Committee on Appropriations approved the proposed budget and will endorse it for plenary approval of the House of Representatives.