LEYTE 4^TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD I. GOMEZ is seen here with His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. after he signed into law the New Agrarian Emancipation Bill, that is, Republic Act (RA) 11953, a law which aims to make the farmer-beneficiaries of the government’s agrarian reform program debt-free.

The ceremonial signing took place at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacanang Palace in Manila on July 7, 2023.

The New Agrarian Emancipation Act condones all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges, incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from land awarded to them under Presidential Decree (PD) 27, RA 6657, and RA 9700.

RA 6657 is the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, while RA 9700 is the legislation extending the acquisition and distribution of agricultural lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). By Gwen Maurillo / Photo grabbed from the City Government of Ormoc FB Page / EV Mail July 3-9, 2023 issue