The Senate Finance Committee has started hearing the 2023 proposed budget of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) amounting to P15.85B.

In a press release, DAR said Senator Cynthia Villar presided over the Finance Committee hearing on the proposed budget on October 19.

Of DAR’s budget, P10.176 billion would be allocated for maintenance and other operating expenses, while P5.674 billion would be for personnel services.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said that from 1972 up to June 2022, DAR has registered certificates of landownership award (CLOAs) covering close to 5 million hectares of land out of a total of 5.46 million hectares.

Some 250,000 hectares more have been identified, while 114,000 hectares are ready for distribution.

"We always think about the farmers' welfare. The one-year moratorium and condonation of farmers' loan payment will lead to freedom of farmers from debts," he said.

Estrella III also plans to improve critical areas, including loan financing, medical and educational assistance, capacity development, modern farm equipment, fertilizers, and other farm implements and inputs.

He mentioned providing beneficiaries with buffalo or cattle while addressing the lack of farm-to-market roads and irrigation.

At the hearing, Senator Francis Tolentino said he supports the DAR in all its endeavors for the farmers.