Tagbanua Tribe of Busuanga Palawan at the CLOA distribution at DAR

DAR turns-over P2.1-M worth of farm machineries to Aklanon ARBs

The Department of Agrarian Reform  (DAR) in the province of Aklan turned-over P2.1-million worth of farm machineries to 1,041 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to enable them to cope with the adverse effect of the pandemic on their livelihood and communities.

Six (6) agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) namely: Asosasyon ng mga Boracay ATI Tribal Organization, CABADU Irrigators’ Association, Libang Irrigators’ Association, Tagas Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and Fatima Agrarian Reform Cooperative are the recipients of a mini cargo truck, cargo tricycles, mega rice mill, rice cutters, and irrigation pumps.

Regional Director Shiela Enciso said the machineries are implemented under the project dubbed “The PASSOVER: ARBold Move for Deliverance of our ARBs from the COVID 19 Pandemic.”

“This project intends to continue the provision of critical support to ARBs to ensure continued agricultural production, and livelihood and marketing of agricultural products, to ensure their regular source of income,” Enciso said.

The provision of these support services are expected to raise the productivity and income of the members of the ARB organizations.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO) Ma. Teresa Valencia explained that the farm machineries would help stabilize food production activities of the ARBs and catch up with the market demands avoiding wastage and inconvenient price distortions as well as cost escalations.

“We are grateful that Congressman Teodorico T. Haresco Jr., who is our staunch supporter during the budget deliberations of DAR, is one with us in ensuring that farmers should be the top priority in the provision of support services, hence his initiative has benefitted our farmers,” Valenica said.

Congressman Haresco, on his part, told the ARBs to maximize the use of the facilities they receive because it is provided to boost their economic lives.

“We are your partner in your lives and expect that more support will come in your way,” Haresco said. The recipient ARB organizations are from the towns of Malay, Makato, Tangalan, and Malinao.   

Myrna Abelarde, ARB from Fatima Agrarian Reform Cooperative promised the DAR that they would cultivate their farms and make it more productive.

“The support we received from the government ensures the success of all the ARBs here in Aklan,” she said.

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DAR-to-door policy in CLOA distribution now the order of the day

LOCAL officials and staff of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) braved the inclement weather condition and the danger posed by Covid 19 when they went house-to-house to 12 individual agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to deliver at their doorsteps their Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) in Carmen, Bohol recently.

Carmen municipal agrarian reform program officer-in-charge Wilma S. Legaspo and her staff visited the homes of the 12 ARBs one after the other to hand to them their land titles, following the footsteps of DAR Secretary Brother John R. Castriciones.

Bro. John made the DAR-to-door distribution of CLOA the standard policy to show to the farmer-beneficiaries that the agency cares for them in the same way that the latter are expected to take care of the farmlots awarded to them.

“Do not sell your farmlots,” a statement often Bro. John imparted to the beneficiaries. Before, the beneficiaries were brought to the covered court where a program is usually held for CLOA distribution.

Legaspo identified the beneficiaries as Edgar Dumapias, Jesus Dumapias, Zacarias Dumapias Sr and son Zacarias Jr. and Rogelio Dumapias, all recipients of farmlots previously owned by Soledad Cainglet.

The other beneficiaries were Ramon Esto, Luis Esto, Arturo Esto, Maximo Esto, Joel Sepada, Eleuterio Sepada, and Anastacio Olidan also received their CLOAs, covering the property of former owner Miguel Cinchez.

Legaspo encourage them to join farmers’ organizations to enable them to enjoy government assistance in the form of the use of farm machineries and implements and farm inputs and of participation in capacity building seminars and livelihood training workshops.

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Photo Caption:

DAR-Bohol officials and staff brave the storm, rough roads and the danger posed by Covid-19 to distribute CLOAs to 12 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Carmen, Bohol.