MANILA -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P3.52 billion for the Land Tenure Security Program (LTSP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) 2023 submitted to Congress.
The proposed LTSP budget is 12.68% higher than this year’s P3.12 billion NEP allocation.
The DAR will utilize the amount to acquire and register 27,942 hectares of land, and to distribute 27,102 hectares of private agricultural and government-owned lands in favor of Filipino farmers.
The P3.52-billion LTSP funds will cover the following subprograms: land acquisition and distribution (P3.03 billion), non-land transfer activities (P11.89 million), landowners’ compensation by the Land Bank of the Philippines (P256.78 million), post-land distribution (P65.12 million), and other engagements in keeping with the LTSP (P152.95 million).
In his budget message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made a commitment to distribute lands to Filipino farmers. He also pointed out that the government under his leadership “will continue to uphold the rights of farmers and farm workers through the strengthened pursuit” of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARP).
For her part, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that allocating funds for the LTSP is geared to uplift the lives and improve the productivity of Filipino farmers.
“Ang pagkakaroon po ng sariling lupa ang pangarap po ng marami sa ating mga minamahal na magsasaka. Daan po ito tungo sa mas mabuting buhay para sa kanila,” Secretary Pangandaman said.
“Lagi po nating naririnig ‘yung issue patungkol sa mababang productivity at kakulangan sa kapital at teknolohiya ng ating mga magsasaka, na nakakaapekto sa kanilang productivity at kita. Ang masakit pa rito, malaking porsyento po ng kita ng nila ay inilalaan pang pambayad sa may-ari ng lupang pinagsakahan nila. Hopefully po, makatulong po ang paglalaan natin ng pondo para sa LTSP para makamit ng ating mga magsasaka ang pangarap nilang magkaroon ng sarili nilang lupang sasakahin. We want to help empower them and improve their lives,” the Budget Secretary added.
The LTSP is a major undertaking of the DAR, together with Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program, and Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling. (DBM)
