DAR hands over P1.2 M assistance to farmer groups in N. Cotabato

Marion Abella, provincial agrarian reform officer II, said the infrastructure projects, amounting to P300,000 each, were carried out under the national government flagship program Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA).
Abella identified the beneficiary groups as the Moroland Farmers Association in Barangay Pantar, Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) Association in Barangay Wadya, Gastav Agri-Service Cooperative, and Carugmanan Rural Improvement Club.
“These four farmer groups received the second cycle of the PAMANA projects based on their proposal and priority needs,” Abella said.
He elaborated said that except for Gastav Agri-service Coop, the recipient organizations previously availed of assistance for the construction of multi-purpose buildings.
Gastav Agri-service Cooperative was granted a solar dryer in the initial cycle.
Vilma Ofiana, president of KALIPI, thanked DAR and PAMANA for the project as this would mean having a place to hold meetings, general assemblies and other social activities.
“The project from PAMANA is very empowering to women in our barangay. We really feel that we are given favor by the government because our proposals are heard and materialized,” Ofiana said.
Ofiana also assured DAR officials that they will take good care of the project to make it useful in the community and make it sustainable in the best way that they can.
Meanwhile, Board Member Maybel Valdevieso of North Cotabato 2nd district complemented the projects with 40 monobloc chairs for each organization.
During the first year of PAMANA project implementation last year, barangays Pantar, Wadya, Gastav, and Carugmanan also received solar dryer, cow dispersal, goat raising, and potable water system projects, respectively.
PAMANA project is the government’s program and framework for peace and development in conflict-affected areas through community infrastructure and focused delivery of social services. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from ROrejudos-DAR North Cotabato)
Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1611430288106/dar-hands-over-p1-2-m-assistance-to-farmer-groups-in-n-cotabato