Davao City's ARB organization rises to the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Certificate of Appreciation given to LABEARBCO by Barangay Panacan of Davao City

The COVID-19 Pandemic initially started as a worldwide health calamity but has morphed into a full-blown economic crisis, and  greatly impacted the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). While more and more SMEs are slowly experiencing the repercussions of the paralyzing economy, one agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) in Davao City takes exception to this. 

Since the emergence of the pandemic in Davao City in March this year, and imbued with the Filipino "Bayanihan" spirit, Lapuy-Batallion Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative or LABEARBCO, who is one of the assisted ARBOs of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Davao City, regularly donated its Banana Cardava variety produce to different barangays in the city.  At present, LABEARBCO has already donated more than 2,000 kilos of Banana to nine (9) barangays namely: Indangan, Pampanga, Cabantian, Mandug, Tigatto, Panacan, Bunawan, and Sasa.  It also donated more than four hundred (400) pieces of the Banana heart, which has been proven to contain several nutritional benefits and regularly used as meat substitute or served on the dining table as salad appetizer.  As a gesture for its selfless generosity, LABEARBCO recently received certificates of appreciation from two of the benefitted barangays.

Apart from lending a helping hand to the community in these trying times,  and like every SME which will exert ways of sustaining its financial capability during the pandemic crisis, LABEARBCO was able to sell several thousands of kilos of Banana to a major buy and sell company in the city.  To date and according to Ms. Virgincita R. Villacuever, LABEARCO Board Secretary, the coop yielded an estimated income of Php2,000,000.00. "We are fortunate that the sales generated from our produce has been very good, considering that Banana is one of the essential staple fruits especially during this crisis where people tend to buy more nutritious fruits for their families.  We feel blessed in giving some and in gaining some more", Ms. Villacuever exclaimed. (RIO-Davao/PIO-Davao City)