Marcos Urges Agrarian Reform Chief to Expedite Land Titling Ahead of 2027 Deadline

MANILA, Philippines — Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III got a vote of confidence during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday. Marcos said that his administration was aiming to complete the distribution of remaining land titles for land reform beneficiaries by 2027, as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under Estrella "still has a lot of work to do." The president’s remarks underscored the importance of the DAR’s mandate in achieving the administration’s goal of equitable land distribution. Land reform has been a cornerstone of Philippine development policy for decades, seeking to address historical land ownership disparities and empower farmers. Estrella’s leadership at DAR is crucial in ensuring that the remaining land titles are processed and distributed efficiently and transparently, thereby fulfilling the promise of land ownership to beneficiaries. The 2027 deadline signals a focused effort by the Marcos administration to expedite the land reform process and achieve a significant milestone in rural development.