Sison, Surigao del Norte – For Leonides “Nang Leoning” Calang, an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) from Barangay Biyabid, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act is nothing short of a miracle.

Nang Leoning began farming as a child, helping her parents on their tenanted coconut farm. After marrying in 1974, she and her husband continued cultivating the land, planting coconuts, bananas, and fruit trees to support their growing family.

In 1997, the 2.7-hectare land they had been tilling was covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Her father waived his right to be an ARB in favor of Nang Leoning, who received her land title in 2001. But with it came the responsibility to pay P60,000 in land amortization over 30 years through the Land Bank of the Philippines.

While determined to fulfill her obligations, low copra prices and successive typhoons severely impacted their farm, making payments difficult. “There were times I had nothing to pay. I feared the land would be taken back,” she shared.

By 2023, Nang Leoning still owed P23,000—a heavy burden for her. That’s when an unexpected blessing came: the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (RA 11953), signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on July 7, 2023, which wiped out unpaid land amortizations, interests, and condoned loans of ARBs.

“When DAR told me I no longer had to pay, I was overwhelmed with joy. I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Nang Leoning.

She was among 110 ARBs in Surigao del Norte who received Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) on December 23, 2024, during a ceremony in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

Today, Nang Leoning and her husband are back on their feet. With their newly replanted coconut trees now bearing fruit, they harvest around 5,000 coconuts every trimester, with copra priced at P60 per kilo.

“Thank you to our government and DAR for giving hope to farmers like me,” she said. (By: Richard B. Gallardo based on the feature story written by Daryl M. Tumbaga)

Bagong Batas sa Agrarian Emancipation: Isang Biyaya para sa ARBs sa Surigao del Norte

Sison, Surigao del Norte – Para kay Leonides “Nang Leoning” Calang, isang Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) sa Barangay Biyabid, ang Bagong Agrarian Emancipation Act ay isang biyaya at himala.

Bata pa lang si Nang Leoning ay tumutulong na siya sa kanyang mga magulang sa kanilang inuupahang taniman ng niyog. Nang ikasal siya noong 1974, ipinagpatuloy nila ng kanyang asawa ang pagsasaka, pagtatanim ng mga niyog, saging, at iba pang punong namumunga para suportahan ang lumalaking pamilya.

Noong 1997, ang 2.7-ektaryang lupa na kanilang sinasaka ay napasailalim sa Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Dahil sa katandaan ng kanyang ama, ibinigay nito ang karapatang maging ARB kay Nang Leoning. Nakuha niya ang titulo ng lupa noong 2001. Kasama nito ang responsibilidad na bayaran ang halagang P60,000 sa loob ng 30 taon sa pamamagitan ng Land Bank of the Philippines.

Sa kabila ng kanyang pagsisikap, naapektuhan ang kanilang ani dahil sa mababang presyo ng kopra at sunod-sunod na bagyo. “May mga panahong wala talaga akong pambayad. Natatakot akong baka bawiin ng gobyerno ang lupa,” kwento niya.

Pagsapit ng 2023, may natitira pa siyang P23,000 na balanse—isang mabigat na pasanin para sa kanya. Hanggang sa dumating ang hindi inaasahang biyaya: ang Bagong Agrarian Emancipation Act (RA 11953) na nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. noong Hulyo 7, 2023. Pinawalang-bisa ng batas na ito ang natitirang utang, interes, at bayarin ng mga ARB.

“Nang sabihan ako ng DAR na hindi ko na kailangang bayaran, napaiyak ako sa tuwa. Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik,” masayang sabi ni Nang Leoning.

Isa siya sa 110 ARBs sa Surigao del Norte na tumanggap ng Certificate of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) noong Disyembre 23, 2024, sa isang seremonya sa Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

Ngayon, muling nakabangon sina Nang Leoning at ang kanyang asawa. Ang mga panibagong tanim na niyog ay namumunga na, at inaasahang aani ng halos 5,000 niyog kada tatlong buwan, na naibebenta ngayon sa halagang P60 kada kilo ng kopra.

“Maraming salamat sa gobyerno at sa DAR sa pagbibigay pag-asa sa mga magsasaka tulad ko,” pagtatapos niya.