DAR empowers E. Visayas farmers, distributes P48M support services projects and land titles
QUEZON CITY, March 3 -- The lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Eastern Visayas are expected to improve after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Tuesday, March 2, provided them with a total of Php 48.23-million worth of support services projects, implemented the Buhay sa Gulay project and distributed 137.12 hectares of agricultural lands.
DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones, who led the invaluable activity, said the DAR would exhaust all its resources to provide support services projects to the ARBs because they are the ones who are providing food security in the country, especially during trying times the country is experiencing in this pandemic.
Castriciones said the DAR turned over the Sta. Cruz communal irrigation system (CIS), worth Php 25.43- million to the local government of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Jaro, Leyte. The said CIS is expected to improve farmers’ yields since it is estimated to service 116 hectares of lands.
The Secretary also noted that farmers in Barangay San Vicente, Matag-ob, Leyte was given an opportunity to have cheaper and easier access to transport their products in various markets with the construction of a Php 22.80-million San Vicente steel bridge implemented under the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo.
During his short visit in the province, Castriciones also distributed a total of 137.12 hectares of lands to 88 landless farmers from the towns of Alangalang, Babatngon, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, La paz, Pastrana and Tacloban City.
“We are collaborating with other government agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Public Works and Highways, local government units and even the military forces because we want to give our services to the farmers in a whole government approach,” Brother John said.
The DAR also implemented the Buhay sa Gulay program in a more than 20-hectare lot in Barangay Kawayan, Tacloban City.
“This urban farming project aims to contribute in ensuring food security and encourage the people that they could still farm even in urban areas,” he added.
The program is in partnership with the DA and the local government of Tacloban, where a one-hectare lot would be utilized for its initial phase.
Support Services Office Undersecretary Emily Padilla said that this is historic because it is the first Buhay sa Gulay project implemented outside the National Capital Region.
“We will make idle lands become productive because the true essence of social justice is to make good use of lands, as they say, ‘ang lupa ay buhay’,” Padilla said.
Tacloban City farmers also received various assistance from the DAR in the form of organizational development and strengthening training, livelihood training, farm machineries, and farm inputs.
ARB Erlinda Perez expressed her gratitude to the DAR and said that the projects they received are a big help in their lives and promised that they would use it properly and would make their farms more productive.
Under the DAR-to-Door program, which aims to make the farmers feel that the government services is just within their reach, the Secretary was also able to deliver certificate of land ownership award, with an area of 5,744 sq. m., to farmer-beneficiary Rogelio Pobadora in his house in Barangay Cabalawan in Tacloban City . (DAR)
