By Gabriela Baron
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, during his maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) vowed to continue the agrarian reform program.
In his first SONA, Marcos noted that agrarian reform is “not only about acquisition, but also support services and distribution.”
Marcos Jr. said he will issue an Executive Order (EO) for a one-year moratorium on land amortization and interest payments by agrarian reform beneficiaries.
“A moratorium will give the farmers the ability to channel its resources in developing their farms, maximizing their capacity to produce and propel the growth of our economy,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Congress must pass a law that will emancipate the agrarian reform beneficiaries from the agrarian reform debt burden, thereby amending Sec. 26 of [Republic Act] 6657,” he added.
In the law, Marcos Jr. furthered, the loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries with unpaid amortization and interest will be condoned, while agricultural lands acquired under EO No. 75 series of 2019 will be given to graduates of college degree in agriculture who are landless.
“Layon ng batas na ito na burahin ang hindi mabayarang utang ng ating mga magsasaka na benepisyaryo ng agrarian reform,” he added.-ngs