Battambang, February 12, 2026 — The Royal Government of Cambodia today granted Social Land Concessions (SLC) to 421 landless and land-poor families from nine villages in Preah Phos commune, Kos Kralor district, Battambang province, under the Land Allocation for Social and Economic Development Project III (LASED III).

The land allocation ceremony was held at Preah Phos Primary School and presided over by H.E. So Khan Rithykun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), representing H.E. Say Samal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and Chair of the LASED III Project Steering Committee.

Participants included representatives from MLMUPC, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Deputy Governor of Battambang province, ​the Governor of World Bank Team, Kos Kralor district, LASED III national and sub-national teams, local authorities, and beneficiary families.

The 421 beneficiaries were selected from 693 applicants who applied for social concession land in November 2025. Of the selected families, 249 received both residential and agricultural land plots; 113 received residential land only; and 59 received agricultural land based on their requests. Residential plots measure 30 meters by 40 meters, while agricultural plots measure two hectares each.

The SLC site, located in Preah Phos commune, covers a total area of 901 hectares. The land use plan includes 51.22 hectares for residential plots, 626 hectares for agricultural land, 30.52 hectares designated as an administrative zone, 6.48 hectares as a reserved administrative zone, and 44.06 hectares allocated as green areas.

Upcoming project phases will focus on infrastructure development to prepare the site for settlement and agricultural activities. Planned works include land preparation, installation of boundary demarcation poles for residential and agricultural plots, construction of four kilometers of concrete roads and 10.8 kilometers of laterite roads, a three-room teacher dormitory, a health post, a community center, a community market, a small-scale irrigation system, a water supply system, and a solar lighting system.

The project expects beneficiaries to begin settling on their allocated land in the third quarter of 2026, following the completion of infrastructure works.

Launched in 2008, LASED is a government initiative aimed at providing residential and agricultural land to landless and land-poor families. LASED III, the third phase of the program, has been implemented since October 2020, with MLMUPC serving as the Executing Agency and MAFF as the Implementing Agency.

The project has a total budget of US$107 million, including US$93 million financed by the World Bank and US$14 million contributed by the Royal Government of Cambodia. It seeks to improve land tenure security and expand access to infrastructure, agricultural support, and social services for landless and land-poor families and indigenous communities.

Currently, LASED III operates in nine provinces: Stung Treng, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Kratie, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, and Battambang. The project is expected to benefit approximately 5,000 families nationwide by providing secure land tenure, infrastructure development, agricultural training, and expanded rural services.