Catching their breath and exerting extra efforts under the scorching heat of the sun, 21 men and women of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR ) in the province of North Cotabato recently conquered the country's highest summit.

They climb Mt. Apo, which towers 10,311 feet above sea level, to feel the thrill, see the breathtaking beauty of nature, and dedicate their success and hard work in time for the 34th year celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The CARP, an agrarian reform law of the Philippines with a legal basis as the Republic Act No. 6657 was signed on June 10, 1988.

After spending some 12-13 hours hiking, with some rest in between, the group reached the summit with a sense of pride, fulfillment, and feat.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Christy Nullada said their feat could be compared to their work in DAR, which is to improve the lives of the farmers and help boost the agricultural sector of the country.

“However tedious and tiring our tasks, we can overcome it through perseverance, cooperation, and dedication. We encountered many obstacles in reaching the summit and some of us wanted to give up, yet our goal is bigger than these hiccups that at the end of the day we still conquered,” she said.

Nullada stressed that the essence of dedicating their achievement to the CARP anniversary is that despite the numerous problems the DAR is facing, in the end, its success would rely on its goal to fulfill the grand aspirations of the farmers.

Before they commenced their climb traversing the Mandangan trail in Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, the employees planted some 40 seedlings of Agoho trees along the landslide-prone area of the trail.

Nullada divulged that their small deed is their contribution to the environment because trees help in reducing air pollution and prevent soil erosions and landslides.

Before descending back to the campsite in Lake Venado, the group conducted a clean-up drive by picking up the trashes left by other trekkers.

The said climb was in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Kidapawan City's tourism office, where they awarded the DAR employees with certificates of climb.

The employees include: MARPOs Felipa Cabrera, Christy Nullada, Leosa Nanette Arenal, Reno Olivares, Hans Vinluan, and other personnel including Lady Diana Garcisto, Robie Joy Jamoner, Ryan Rey Galvez, Alvin De Guzman, Hannah Maeh Espadera, Karen Mae Ceballos, Eva Vesta Bao-ay, Elpedio Neil Porras, Alma Lyn Quinones, Lady Lee Reyes, Cheerlyn Perocho, Ana Marie Luma, Cherry Mae Man-on, Sandra Cortez, Ayana Bianca Caramugan, and Arth Christian Quinanola.

Earlier this year, a group of 10 employees of DAR NorthCot also climbed Mt. Apo and planted agoho tree seedlings along the Mandangan trail.

Hinahabol ang kanilang hininga habang tinatahak ang daan sa init ng araw, 21 kawani mula sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR ) sa lalawigan ng North Cotabato ang inakyat kamakailan ang pinakamataas na tuktok ng bundok sa bansa.

Inakyat nila ang Mt. Apo, na may taas na 10,311 talampakan, para sa kakaibang karanasan, makita ang ganda ng kalikasan at maihandog kanilang tagumpay sa ika-34 selebrasyon Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Ang CARP, ang agrarian reform law ng bansa na ang legal basis ay ang Republic Act No. 6657 ay nilagdaan noong June 10, 1988.

Pagkatapos ng 12-13 oras na pag-akyat, na may kasamang pagpapahinga sa pagitan nito, naabot ng grupo ang tuktok ng may pagmamalaki, kasiyahan at katuparan ng kanilang kahanga-hangang ginawa.

Ayon kay Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Christy Nullada, ang kanilang ginawa ay maaaring maikumpara sa kanilang trabaho sa DAR, ang tulungang mapaunlad ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at palakasin ang sektor ng agrikultura.

“Kahit gaano kahirap at nakapapagod ang gawain, matatapos natin ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiyaga, kooperasyon at dedikasyon. Maraming hadlang upang maabot namin ang tuktok at ang ilan sa amin ay ninais ng tumigil, subalit dahil mas malaki ang layunin namin kaysa sa mga hadlang, naabot pa rin namin ang gusto naming makamit,” aniya.

Binigyang diin ni Nullada na ang diwa ng kanilang pagpupugay at pag-aalay sa CARP anniversary ay dahil sa kahit gaano karaming problema ang kinakaharap ng DAR, sa bandang huli ay magtatagumpay pa rin ito dahil sa inaasahang layunin na matupad ang dahilang adhikain para sa mga magsasaka.

Bago nila sinimulan ang pag-akyat sa daanan ng Mandangan trail sa Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, ang mga empleyado ay nagtanim ng 40 seedling ng puno ng Agoho trees sa kahabaan ng landslide prone area ng trail.

SInabi ni Nullada na ang kanilang munting gawain na ito ay kanilang kontribusyon sa kalikasan dahil ang puno ay nakatutulong sa pagpapabawas ng polusyon at maiwasan ang soil erosion at pagpigil ng pagguho ng lupa.

Bago bumaba pabalik sa camp site sa Lake Venado, nagsagawa rin ang grupo ng clean-up drive sa pamamagitan ng pagpulot ng mga basurang iniwan ng ibang trekkers.

Ang nasabing pag-akyat ay may koordinasyon sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources at sa tourism office ng Kidapawan City, kung saan binigyan ang mga empleyado ng sertipiko ng pag-akyat.

Kasama sa mga empleyado sina: MARPOsFelipa Cabrera, Christy Nullada, Leosa Nanette Arenal, Reno Olivares, Hans Vinluan, at iba pang kawani na kinabibilangan nina Lady Diana Garcisto, Robie Joy Jamoner, Ryan Rey Galvez, Alvin De Guzman, Hannah Maeh Espadera, Karen Mae Ceballos, Eva Vesta Bao-ay, Elpedio Neil Porras, Alma Lyn Quinones, Lady Lee Reyes, Cheerlyn Perocho, Ana Marie Luma, Cherry Mae Man-on, Sandra Cortez, Ayana Bianca Caramugan, at Arth Christian Quinanola.

Noong unang bahagi ng taong ito, umakyat din ang grupo ng 10 empleyado ng DAR NorthCot sa Mt.Apo at nagtanim ng mga punla ng agoho tree sa tabi ng Mandangan trail.