ARBs received supplemental package from DAR Antique

A total of 254 qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from various towns in Antique have received supplemental package of food and non-food items from the Department of Agrarian Reform Antique amid the general community quarantine implemented province-wide.

This is one of the components of DAR’s nationwide project tagged as The PaSSOver: ARBold Move for Deliverance of ARBs from the COVID-19 Pandemic (ARBold Move) which aims to provide immediate essential support services to men and women ARBs greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

The distribution started from May 18 to May 22 to thirteen (13) towns in the province namely Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, Sibalom, San Remigio, Patnongon, Bugasong, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Culasi, Pandan and Sebaste.

PARPO II Florentino D. Siladan said the ARBold Move project is the agency’s answer to the needed assistance and support of the agrarian sector that in turn will let them sustainably supply adequate food in these trying times.

“Our ARBs and ARBOs are among the most vulnerable sectors affected by the crisis brought by the pandemic and all the stringent measures to mitigate its spread therefore, it is our duty to support them in order to ensure food security for every Filipino family”, Siladan said.

According to Siladan, the package as the preliminary assistance for the ARBs contain 4 kgs of rice, noodles, canned goods, mask, vitamins and a bath soap that will somehow help the families on their everyday lives.

He also added that the qualified ARBs who have received the supplemental package are those who were not served by the social amelioration/food packs assistance from other agencies.

Farmer recipient, Mrs. Evelyn Tamborong couldn’t hide her tears during an interview where she expressed her utmost gratitude to the whole DAR sharing that the remaining rice on their house is no longer enough for tomorrows eat. She said she is grateful for the time allotted by the DAR personnel to deliver the goods for the poor beneficiaries like her in their community.

Other components of the projects are the Support to ARBOs as Frontliners in the Food Supply Chain, Farm Productivity Assistance to ARBs and Livelihood Support for Women in Crisis Situation that is to be rolled out for another set of beneficiaries in the coming days.