Manila, Dec. 19 -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) advances closer to its nationwide target of distributing 300,000 hectares of farmland this year as it awarded land titles and debt relief to 29,382 farmers in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).

In a news release Friday, DAR said the distribution, held on Thursday at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center, covered a total of 63,454.50 hectares across the region.

"We are distributing land titles across the country in line with the President's directive for DAR to distribute about 300,000 hectares this year," DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella said in his speech during the distribution.

"What we are doing here in Region 12 is part of that national effort-to ensure that farmers finally own...