SORSOGON – The 11th World Bank Implementation Support Mission for Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (Project SPLIT ) was successfully conducted in Sorsogon from March 16 to 18, 2025. The mission assessed the project’s progress, discussed implementation challenges, and identified strategies to accelerate land parcelization and titling efforts.

Project SPLIT, a flagship initiative of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) funded by the World Bank, aims to strengthen agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) land tenure security by converting collective certificates of land ownership award (CCLOAs) into individual electronic land titles.

The project is expected to benefit over 1.14 million ARBs nationwide by issuing individual land titles for approximately 1.38 million hectares of agricultural land. In Bicol, the initiative covers more than 100,697 hectares and supports 32,925 ARBs.

World Bank Senior Land Administration Specialist Kathrine Kelm underscored the importance of efficiency in meeting project goals. “We are here to develop a three-year work plan to fast-track land parcelization while addressing challenges with practical solutions,” Kelm stated.

DAR SPLIT Regional Project Director Reuben Theodore Sindac, highlighted Sorsogon’s leadership in Project SPLIT’s implementation, achieving milestones in field validation, land surveys, and e-title distribution. In 2024, Sorsogon became the first province to obtain survey plan approvals from the Land Registration Authority (LRA) and issue e-titles within a record three-month period. As of March 15, 2025, DAR-Sorsogon has successfully distributed 736 e-titles to 614 ARBs, covering 1,212.90 hectares of land.

“DAR-Sorsogon’s commitment to Project SPLIT has led to key milestones, including swift survey approvals and expedited e-title issuance. With the project’s extension, we remain focused on securing land ownership for more agrarian reform beneficiaries,” said Sindac.

The mission also highlighted the significance of digitization and adherence to international standards in streamlining agrarian reform processes. DAR-Sorsogon continues to implement best practices in land documentation and distribution, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to complete the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) before 2028. The World Bank’s recent extension of Project SPLIT until 2027 is expected to further strengthen these efforts, ensuring that more ARBs receive individual land titles and long-term support. (By: Edminda Roque)

World Bank Mission Sinuri ang Pagpapatupad ng Project SPLIT sa Sorsogon

SORSOGON – Matagumpay na isinagawa sa Sorsogon ang 11th World Bank Implementation Support Mission for Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (Project SPLIT) mula Marso 16 hanggang 18, 2025. Sinuri ng misyong ito ang pag-usad ng proyekto, at ang mga hamon sa implementasyon, at naglatag ng mga estratehiya upang magapabilis ang paghahati-hati ng mga titulo ng lupa.

Ang Project SPLIT, na pinamumunuan ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at pinondohan ng World Bank, ay naglalayong patatagin ang seguridad sa pagmamay-ari ng lupa ng agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) sa pamamagitan ng paghahati-hati ng mga collective certificates of land ownership awards (CCLOA) upang maging mga indibidwal na electronic land title.

Tinatayang mahigit 1.14 milyong ARB sa buong bansa ang makikinabang sa proyektong ito, na may layuning mamahagi ng indibidwal na titulo ng lupa para sa humigit-kumulang 1.38 milyong ektarya ng lupang pansakahan. Sa rehiyon ng Bicol, saklaw nito ang mahigit 100,697 ektarya at susuportahan ang 32,925 ARBs.

Ayon kay Kathrine Kelm, Senior Land Administration Specialist ng World Bank, mahalaga ang mabilis at epektibong pagpapatupad ng proyekto upang matupad ang mga layunin nito. “Narito kami upang bumuo ng tatlong-taong plano na magpapabilis sa proseso ng parselisasyon ng lupa habang tinutugunan ang mga hamon sa praktikal na paraan,” pahayag ni Kelm.

Ipinagmalaki ni DAR SPLIT Regional Project Director Reuben Theodore Sindac, ang pagiging modelo ng Sorsogon sa pagpapatupad ng Project SPLIT, lalo na sa larangan ng field validation, land surveys, at pamamahagi ng e-titles. Noong 2024, ang Sorsogon ang kauna-unahang lalawigan na nakakuha ng survey plan approvals mula sa Land Registration Authority (LRA) at nakapag-isyu ng e-titles sa loob lamang ng tatlong buwan. Sa tala noong Marso 15, 2025, matagumpay nang naipamahagi ng DAR-Sorsogon ang 736 e-titles sa 614 ARB na sumasaklaw sa 1,212.90 ektarya ng lupa.

“Ang dedikasyon ng DAR-Sorsogon sa Project SPLIT ay nagresulta sa mabilis na pag-apruba ng mga survey at agarang pamamahagi ng e-titles. Sa pagpapalawig ng proyekto, mas matutugunan pa natin ng pansin ang pagbibigay ng seguridad sa lupa para sa mas maraming agrarian reform beneficiaries,” ani Sindac.

Binigyang-diin din sa misyon ang kahalagahan ng digitalization at pagsunod sa mga pandaigdigang pamantayan upang gawing mas epektibo and proseso ng agrarian reform. Patuloy na ipinapatupad ng DAR-Sorsogon ang pinakamahuhusay na pamamaraan sa dokumentasyon at pamamahagi ng lupa, alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tapusin ang Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) bago ang taong 2028.

Dahil sa pagpapalawig ng World Bank sa Project SPLIT hanggang 2027, inaasahang mas maraming ARBs makatatanggap ng kanilang indibidwal na titulo at mas matibay na suporta sa kanilang pagmamay-ari ng lupa.