DAR Caraga opens info gallery to celebrate 31st CARP year
Butuan City– The Department of Agrarian Reform-13 celebrates the 31stanniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with the public as it opened its Information and Photo Gallery dubbed at “Ani at Biyaya ng Repormang Agraryo”, on June 18, 2019 at the South Atrium of the Robinsons Mall, this city.
DAR Regional Director Leomides Villareal opened the gallery in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting along with other DAR officials.
“The CARP Anniversary celebration will not be complete without us engaging the farmers and general public”, Villareal said.
Villareal furthers that the initiative is a deliberate effort to bring the agrarian reform agenda closer to the public and the young citizens.
“We have observed a declining number of young people who views agriculture, particularly family farming a viable means of living and ensure food security of the family, thus the need to make them understand that farming is still rewarding here”, he explained.
The gallery, which is accessible to the public for free from June 18 showcases information and photos of various DAR’s services and activities.
The gallery will also host guided tour for students of various schools in the city. Agusan National High School is one of the confirmed school as of writing.
“The concept is to bring farming and agriculture into the table of options for junior high school students when they choose their strand”, Villareal added.
“We also intend to bring this concept to other schools, including universities in the whole region”, Villareal furthers.
Villareal also said that this initiative is in support to the President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to hasten land distribution. “To make this work fast, we need the public’s cooperation and understanding”, said Villareal.
The gallery also features videos of successful agrarian reform beneficiaries and projects and their testimonies and a slideshow of farmer’s products being distributed in local market.
The comprehensive agrarian reform program was made into law in June 1988 and was the centerpiece social justice program of then President Corazon Aquino.
