By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has pledged a permanent solution to agrarian issues faced by farmers, expressing his disdain for “band-aid solutions.”
“I reject Band-Aid solutions. What I seek is a lasting remedy,” Marcos declared during the distribution of land titles to 3,184 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Caraga region.
President Marcos referenced Executive Order 4, which he enacted on September 13, 2022, placing a one-year moratorium on amortization and interest payments for agricultural debts. This order aims to provide farmers with some financial relief from their debt burden.
Additionally, Republic Act 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, benefiting over 600,000 ARBs nationwide, was signed into law by Marcos.
He emphasized that the EO serves as only a temporary measure for addressing farmers’ issues.
“While we may view this as a success, the fight is not yet over. My goal is to complete the distribution of land under the Agrarian Reform Program before the end of my term,” Marcos affirmed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
