Department of Agrarian Reform XI

	Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM Regional Office XI Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City

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Region XI

DARRO XI News Briefs

Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on BARC roles and functions held

CALINAN, DAVAO CITY - A focus group discussion on Barangay Agrarian Reform Council (BARC) Roles and Functions was conducted in two (2) areas in Davao City, namely Tawantawan, Baguio District and Subasta, Calinan District on May 26 and 27, 2010, respectively.

BARC Officers in these two areas were engaged in a discussion on their expanded role under RA 9700 or the CARP Extension with Reforms. Their inputs were gathered for the Manual on BARC Roles and Functions being prepared by the DAR Central Office (DARCO). Ms. Tonet Galeon, Ms. Jean Dumandan and Ms. Hermie Ferrer, members of the Regional BARC Core Team, facilitated the activity.

In another development, the Regional BARC Core Team conducted a regionwide Training Needs Assessment (TNA) with the assistance of DAR Municipal Office (DARMO) personnel. Respondents to the said survey include BARC Chairpersons and other members. The results for Region XI have been forwarded to DARCO for consolidation. - Tonette Galeon

DAR XI Strengthens GAD Efforts, Holds Workshop

DAVAO CITY - Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) XI management recently underwent a Gender and Development (GAD) Awareness & Orientation cum Workshop on June 9-11, 2010. Held at Mergrande Ocean Resort in Davao City, the 2-day workshop was aimed at enhancing participants' appreciation and understanding of gender issues, how these have evolved through time, and DAR's efforts at mainstreaming GAD into its various thrusts and priorities. About 50 participants, composed of division and section heads from the regional and provincial offices, took part in the said workshop.

This activity is part of the agency's operational directives for 2010 as stipulated in RA 9700, otherwise known as the CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER) law. One of the unique provisions of this law is the importance it gives to the participation of rural women in the development process, giving them equal access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing facilities and technology, and other support services. They shall also be given equal treatment in land reform and resettlement schemes.

To ensure the implementation of its plans and program section, Sec. 15 of this act further provides that DAR shall establish and maintain a Women's Desk at the Regional, Provincial and Municipal level to cater to the needs of the DAR employees and rural women. Once in place, these Women's Desks will provide an avenue where women can register their complaints and grievances principally related to their rural activities. (Manny Agapay)

DAR XI webteams attend national assessment

DAVAO CITY - Mindanao and Visayas DAR webteams convened at Ciudad Christhia Resort, San Mateo, Rizal for the 1st National Web Assessment and Strategic Planning Conference on May 24-26, 2010.

Regional and provincial webteam representatives of the national assessment groups discussed issues and concerned regarding the website operations to better serve our stakeholders in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) stakeholders.

Region XI representatives to the said assessment were regional and provincial information officers and two representatives each from the provinces. Genevieve Ortiz, Dexter Alonzo and Mansueto Agapay represented the Regional Office XI web team. - Manny Agapay

For inquiries, comments & suggestions, email us @ darro11webteam@yahoo.com

DAR XI Wins National Mural Painting Contest

DAVAO CITY - Davao students garnered the championship trophy and P150,000 cash for topping the Nationwide DAR-Boysen sponsored Mural Painting Contest at Quezon City Memorial Circle on May 26-28, 2010.

The said contest was in line with the celebration of the 22nd Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Anniversary with the theme "Buhay sa Bukid ay Masaya kung may Sipag at Pag-aaruga". This is part of the agency's continuing social marketing program to promote CARP, its goals and objectives as it shares in our country's move to progress.

The five (5) participating student-artists were Bernie S. Ladaran Jr.(Davao del Norte), a student of Tagum Trade School, Bea Trizia A. Jimenez (Davao Oriental) from the Ateneo de Davao University, Renz Marion J. Lerog (Davao City) of the Holy Cross of Calinan, Jay-Ar S. Meode (Davao Sur) from UM - Digos City, and Abegail V. Florentino (Compostela Valley) also from Tagum Trade School.

DAR XI Regional Director Datu Yusoph B. Mama calls this victory "a great honor to the region", it being the first win for Region XI and for a contingent from Mindanao. - Manny Agapay

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2010: Banner year for DAR XI

DAVAO CITY - DAR XI employees are beaming with pride these days, what with the successive awards and recognition received by the region recently.

First to grab the headlines is the Region's first-ever Grand Prize award in the National Mural Painting Contest held in Quezon City. DAR XI's 5-man team composed of students from the Region's five provinces stole the limelight from the perennial winner, Region 1, and ran away with the PhP150,000.00 cash prize and a trophy.

Just recently, the Laak Multipurpose Cooperative (LAMPCO), was adjudged the "Most Progressive ARB Organization" in Mindanao, besting over 20 other coops for the coveted prize consisting of a trophy and PhP40,000.00 cash. LAMPCO is a DAR-assisted coop whose members are mostly agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

Capping this slew of victories is the "Best Fresh Produce" award garnered by Menzi Pomelo during the 9th Agraryo Trade Fair held at SM Megatrade Hall, Mandaluyong City last June. The judges unanimously chose the famed citrus fruit over all the other fresh produce displayed during the 3-day Trade Fair. The sweet and juicy Menzi Pomelo is the banner product of Menzi Farmers Cooperative (MEFCO), Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Datu Yusoph B. Mama, DAR XI Regional Director, proudly said "As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. That is why we expect more awards and recognition to come." He also added that "If you really give your best effort in everything you do, God will be kind to you and you'll be richly rewarded." Thus, he encouraged everybody to give their best in order to achieve, if not surpass, last year's 104% performance in terms of land distribution, support services, agrarian justice delivery and managing the publics. - Information Unit, DARRO XI

BARC officers of Subasta, Calinan in a huddle with members of the BARC core team

Participants from Davao Sur concentrating on their workshop output

DAR XI webteams pose with ASec Jim Coleto & Dir. James Ponce

SHEER TALENT, ALL HEART. The artists whose talents gave life to the winning mural (from left) - Abegail V. Florentino (ComVal), Bea Trizia A. Jimenez (Davao Oriental), Bernie S. Ladaran (Davao Norte), Jay-Ar S. Meode (Davao Sur) & Renz Marion J. Lerog (Davao City).(Photo by Melvia J. Malubay)

"Let's all become one"

DAVAO CITY - DAR XI Regional Director Datu Yusoph B. Mama has urged all personnel in the entire region to support President Benigno Simeon "P-Noy" C. Aquino III's appeal in his 1st State of the Nation Address (SONA) to become one in fulfilling our hopes and aspirations for our country.

Director Mama has made this appeal before all employees who listened to P-Noy's 1st SONA which focuses more on his anti-corruption and poverty reduction program.

"Let's all listen to the first SONA of P-Noy" was the firm directive of Director Datu Mama to all DAR officials and staff in the entire region as a manifestation of support to the new administration.

DAR XI employees' overwhelming support to P-Noy was manifested in the attendance at the conference hall wherein all employees listened intently on every word that the President uttered in his first SONA.

"Let's all be one in supporting our President's plans and program to forge a public-private partnership and attain his main objective of bringing this country into one again", Director Datu Mama reiterated his appeal to all DAR XI employees. (DAR XI Information Unit)

RD Mama addresses DARRO XI employees after viewing P-noy's SONA

"No mention of DAR or CARP in P-noy's 1st SONA"

Davao City--This was the common reaction from the employees of the provincial and regional offices of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here who were simultaneously glued to their television monitors for almost an hour to see and hear the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of His Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino III. However, DAR XI Regional Director Datu Yusoph B. Mama remains optimistic saying: "I still believe Pres. Aquino will outperform the previous administration in the implementation of the agrarian reform program."

Early morning of Monday, RD Datu Yusoph B. Mama issued a memorandum enjoining all the provincial and regional staff, to jointly watch the SONA of P-Noy in their respective offices so that all employees would hear first hand, what the President has to say on the present state of the nation and his plans and programs under his term.

As the employees eagerly listened to the SONA, most of them were somehow expecting that something will be said about the DAR or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)--his late mother, President Cory Aquino's centerpiece program during her administration. However nothing came out of it. Some 1.2 million hectares of agricultural lands remains to be distributed nationwide under CARPer, which is supposed to end in 2014.

The employees were also anticipating the possible mention of employee welfare and benefits, particularly the status of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) due to the many complaints by government employees. But again, they were disappointed. Nonetheless, applause filled the room each time P-Noy exposes some inactions and misdeeds committed by the previous administration and whenever he proposes solutions to the problems he inherited from the past administration.

"You may not have heard everything you expected the President to say during his first SONA, but I assure you that everything will be in place in due time as this administration, I believe, has started it right," said RD Mama during his address to the employees after the SONA. (DAR XI Information Unit/PIA XI)

RD Mama with DARRO XI employees watching the live TV broadcast of P-noy's SONA

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"My administration will be just and fair to all" - DAR Chief

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes has assured all agrarian reform program major stakeholders that his administration will be just and fair to all when it comes to deciding land dispute cases.

Delos Reyes made this clear in a dialogue with farmer-beneficiaries recently at the DAR Human Resources Development Center even as he encouraged all parties concerned to feel free to visit his office and offer comments and/or suggestions on how a case would be tackled to ensure that his decision would be acceptable to all.

"Let it be known that in deciding cases, I will make sure that our decision will be beneficial to all, and just and fair as well", he said.

Delos Reyes, who claims to have passion for studying and teaching, gave farmer-beneficiaries a glimpse of what his administration would be like when he tossed to them a problem-solving situation involving an imaginary agrarian case in a bid to solicit suggestions on how to tackle the issues surrounding the case.

"Please do help me in resolving this case without, however, prejudicing the interest of other beneficiaries," the DAR Chief said, referring to a situation on how to divide certain properties among beneficiaries, some with lean and others with bloated number of family members.

Delos Reyes raised this scenario, saying that there are cases that are similarly situated and the questions often raised are whether the land should be subdivided according to the number of families or to the number of individuals qualified to become beneficiaries under existing laws.

"What if one family has only one child and other has more than one child and also has relatives and/or friends who were temporarily allowed to occupy certain areas within the subject property?, he asked.

"Rest assured that I will always take into account your comments and/or suggestions before I affix my signature on all cases made available on my table." he said. (DARCO-PAS/DARRO XI Information Unit/PIA XI)