Against the odds: The DARPO Guimaras PaSSOver Journey

The COVID 19 Pandemic has been a harsh experience for our farmers, especially our ARBs. With the initiative of the DAR in line with Bayanihan Heal as One Law or RA 11469, the PaSSOver : ARBold Move for the Deliverance of our farmers from COOVID 19 Pandemic was launched to ensure timely and relevant relief operations.

In the case of Guimaras, a uniquely and strategically located island province in Region 6 wherein the workforce of the DARPO is a mix of efficient breed of Ilonggos and Guimarasnons. During the declaration of the ECQ and GCQ in both provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras and Iloilo City, the employees had a challenging dilemma as to how to pull through with the procurement of the relief packs and with the distribution that would follow.

These obstacles faced by employees divided by the waters were soon overcome as constant and close coordination among PARPO Manuel Velasco, the PBDD team players, the Bids and Awards Committee and the Admin. And Finance Division was done even beyond the usual office hours.

Two days into the negotiations, suppliers agreed to deliver the relief items exactly on May 18, 2020 as the DARPO targeted to distribute them in the same week.

DARPO Guimaras is indeed not an ordinary office, and not made of ordinary employees. It is made of people who made the impossible possible, the physical presence meaningless as transactions were done and closed even from a distance. It has proven time and again that it will rise above its struggles to serve the ARBs now, more than ever.