Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

	DAR Secretary on rural development. Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman spoke before the Ministers and senior officials on rural development as well as ambassadors during the Special Governing Council (GC) meeting of the Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP). Pangandaman reiterated the need for CIRDAP to map out its development plan to stratigically position itself as a competitive regional governmental body. Pangandaman is the chair of the CIRDAP GC until CY 2009.
	Secretary at the GC-16. Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman conversing with Dr. Shri Raguvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development, India and Dr. Durga Prasad Paudyal, Director General of the Centre for Integrated Rural Development in the Asia and Pacific (CIRDAP) on the Philippine's efforts on reducing poverty, promotion of employment opportunities and in sustaining rural development. Pangandaman presided the Special Governing Council meeting of the CIRDAP held on June 24, 2008 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, India.
	DAR - PNP MOA signing. Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman representing the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Avelino I. Razon representing the PNP signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last June 16, 2008 at the newly inaugurated DAR National Women's Center, DAR Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. (L-R) Head Executive Assistant Jim G. Coleto, Director Atanacia M. Guevarra, Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman, Dir. Gen. Avelino I. Razon, PSupt. Fe C. Raga, and Director Erlinda M. Manluctao.
	Inauguration of DAR Women's Center. Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman and Dir. Gen. Avelino I. Razon of the Philippine National Police (PNP) inaugurated the new Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) National Womens' Center last June 16, 2008. The center which will provide assistance to walk-in clients relative to gender issues, is located at the 1st Floor, DAR Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City.
	CARP scholars honored. Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman hands out the plaque of recognition to Leah Viloria, one of the scholars under the President Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Scholarship Program (PDMASP). Some 1,762 children of farmer-beneficiaries were able to pursue college education through the said scholarship grant. The award was given during the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in SEAMEO Innotech, Quezon City.
	CARP's Best Beneficiary. Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman awards the palque of recognition to Roberto Butac of San Miguel-Cattaban Cluster agrarian reform community in Burgos, Isabela for being this year's Most Outstanding agrarian reform beneficiary in Luzon. The event was part of the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
	16th Session of UNCSD. Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman attended the 16th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in New York, United States of America where he delivered a statement entitled, "The Way Forward: A Philippine Perspective" during the High-Level Segment of the 16th Session of the EcoSoc Commission on Sustainable Development last May 14, 2008. The thematic issues of the 16th Session of the Commission on sustainable Development are agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa.