In consonance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to accelerate the distribution of land titles, the World Bank has extended the implementation of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) until 2027 as shared during the World Bank 9th Implementation Support Mission of the SPLIT Project Kick-Off yesterday, May 27, 2024 at DAR Central Office, Quezon City.
DAR Undersecretary and SPLIT Project Implementation Officer Jesry T. Palmares expressed optimism as he shared that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. approved the extension of Project SPLIT until 2027.
DAR Undersecretary and SPLIT Project Implementation Officer Jesry T. Palmares delivers his Welcome Remarks during the World Bank 9th Implementation Support Mission of the SPLIT Project Kick-Off on May 27, 2024.
“The President wants it done immediately. This is how important the program is to the President. That is the reason why just last week, we went to four provinces: Tacloban, Dumaguete, Koronadal, and Dipolog. He was there present, attending all these land titles distributions because he wants to feel and know that the agrarian reform that his father started succeed and be in place,” Palmares said.
Project SPLIT is a flagship initiative of DAR with World Bank funding that is expected to benefit over 1.14 million agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) by providing them with individual titles to approximately 1.38 million hectares of agricultural land through the subdivision of collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CCLOAs).
DAR Undersecretary and SPLIT Project Implementation Officer Jesry T. Palmares with World Bank delegates and key participants of the World Bank 9th Implementation Support Mission of the SPLIT Project Kick-Off.
The 9th Implementation Support Mission by the World Bank marks a significant milestone, offering renewed drive and strategic oversight. This mission focuses on evaluating current progress, identifying bottlenecks, and developing strategies to expedite project implementation.
“This is a fresh start again for all of us. Hopefully, we will be working hand-in-hand and accomplish hundreds of thousands of land titles in the next couple of years so that our country will benefit from all the economic impact of Project SPLIT,” Palmares added.
World Bank delegates, Ms. Katherine Kelm and Mr. Tony Burns present during the World Bank 9th Implementation Support Mission of the SPLIT Project Kick-Off.
Starting in 2021, SPLIT was initially to end in 2024, but with the extension, the program is now expected to finish by 2027. This highlights the dedication of DAR and the World Bank to address existing challenges and the completion of individual land titling processes for the ARBs.
Alongside Undersecretary Jesry T. Palmares were Assistant Secretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office Josef Angelo S. Martires, National Project Director Asec Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson, World Bank SPLIT Project Task Team Leader Ms. Katherine M. Kelm and other DAR and World Bank key personnel.
