DAR Antique turns over P300K worth Processing Center to NARC, San Remigio

The Department of Agrarian Reform recently turned over a newly rehabilitated processing center building to the Nagbangi Agrarian Reform Cooperative (NARC) in Nagbangi, San Remigio, Antique, January 21, 2022.

Regional Director Atty. Sheila B. Enciso, PARPO II Florentino D. Siladan, DTI – Antique Provincial Director Ma. Dinda Tamayo, SP Member Hon. Pio Sumande, Municipal Administrator Ruperto B. Mission Jr., and Hon. Bernie Fortin turned over the P300K worth processing center to the NARC officers led by its chairman Analyn M. Fernado and manager Sammy B. Fortin.

The building construction with floor area of 20 square meters started on July 15 to October 31, 2021. The cooperative owns various machinery from the Shared Support Facilities of the DTI such as the Juicer, Grinder, Blender, Oven, Sterilizer, Weighing scale, Freezer, Oven, and Water purifier which aims to increase member’s productivity and competitiveness.

The facility located about 8km from San Remigio town proper will benefit over 34 farmer agrarian reform beneficiaries not only in Nagbangi but also in adjacent barangays. The DAR Provincial Office Antique has earlier provided organizational development management trainings and product development and is continuously giving technical and marketing assistance to the cooperative.

The rehabilitation of the processing center is one of the support facilities developed under the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED Project) of the Department of Agrarian Reform which aims to support development of farmer Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries through capacity building, product development and the provision of materials to be used for the construction of processing building.

With this improvement, the Food and Drug Administration issued NARC a License to Operate (LTO) as a food manufacturer, which is valid until August 26, 2023. NARC can request for a market authorization for health goods before they are manufactured, imported, sold or offered for sale, distributed, transferred, advertised, or promoted, depending on the situation.

The VLFED project also aims to develop competitive ARB products that will meet market expectations. Among the products developed by NARC are ginger brew, banana chips, mix vegetable pickles, camote chips, turmeric brew and taro chips. These products are among Antique’s top pasalubong delicacies displayed in regional and national trade fairs. Moreover, the ginger and turmeric brew produced by the cooperative has been shown to improve one's health and help to boost one's immune system in the fight against Covid-19.

Regional Director Atty. Sheila B. Enciso challenged the men and women ARBs of NARC to increase their organizational revenues given the FDA’s licensed to operate and rehabilitation of the processing center.

PARPO II Florentino D. Siladan recognized DAR Antique's good relationship with all of its stakeholders, including local governments and government agencies like DTI. In terms of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, he also stated that LGU-San Remigio is one of its partner that never says no to development. He also expressed his gratitude to the DAR officials and all of the personnel for their dedication, hard effort, and selfless service to DAR in achieving the goals and delivering the results.

Mr. Ruperto B. Mission Jr., Municipal Administrator of LGU San Remigio in behalf of Hon. Mar Mission thanked DAR for all the support services interventions in San Remigio saying “The LGU is ready to assist the government in all of its endeavors so that the people feel that the government is working for them.”

Hon. Pio Sumande lauded the hardworking members of NARC for their unity that made them one of the established cooperatives in San Remigio amidst limited budget and few members. “With the rise of the eco- tourism in Aningalan, NARCs products can be sold and promoted to the tourists and visitors,” he said. Further emphasizing the need for a long-term livelihood project and taking advantage of any opportunities that arise to supplement one's income.

The turn over ceremony was also attended by CARPO Leonor Juliet J. Lena, OIC CARPO of RSSD DAR Region VI, OIC-CARPO Geralyn E. Cañas of ARBDSP Division, DARPO Antique and DARMO San Remigio personnel, and barangay Nagbangi officials.