PBBM Leads Turnover of P2.6-M Support Services to Lanao del Norte Agrarian Cooperatives
Tubod, Lanao del Norte – On July 5, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. spearheaded the turnover of support services worth P2.6 million to seven agrarian cooperatives through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
This initiative is part of the Climate-resilient Farm Productivity and Support Program (CRFPSP), which aims to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of agrarian reform communities as a measure of climate change resiliency. The program is designed to build resiliency and enhance agricultural productivity, mechanize farm production systems, and serve as revenue-generating assets for the cooperatives.
During the turnover ceremony at the Mindanao Civic Center, President Marcos Jr. emphasized the government's commitment to supporting farmers beyond land distribution.
“Alam niyo po ang trabaho po ng Department of Agrarian Reform ay di lamang magbigay ng lupa. Pagkamatapos maibigay sa inyo ang titulo ng lupa, kayo ay tuloy-tuloy na bibigyan ng mga suportang kailangan ninyo sa pagsasaka,” the President said.
The agrarian cooperatives and the support they received include:
· Maliwanag-Maigo Agrarian Reform Community Marketing Cooperative: 1 mobile corn sheller
· El Salvador Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative: 1 mobile rice mill
· Bualan ARB Marketing Cooperative: Banana slicing chopping machine
· Buriasan Gmal Pili Dansalan Marketing Cooperative: 1 mini hauling truck
· Darulamal Organic ARC Farmers Agriculture Cooperative: 1 rice mill
· Tagoloan ARB Organization: 1 mini-hauling vehicle
· Ramain II Farmers Agriculture Cooperative: 1 farm tractor
Nelyn Yane, chairman of the Bualan ARB Marketing Cooperative, expressed her gratitude to President Marcos Jr. and DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III for providing them with a banana-slicing machine. She noted that it would be used to produce banana chips, a snack food processed by the women members of their cooperative. "With this machine, we will now earn more because we can now produce more and meet the market demand," Yane said.
DAR Secretary Estrella highlighted the agency's continuous support for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). "DAR’s work does not end with distributing agricultural lands to the ARBs. We continue to provide support services to develop their lands and their livelihood further," Estrella said.
President Marcos Jr.'s visit also coincided with the distribution of land titles to 2,857 agrarian reform beneficiaries. This event underscores the administration's dedication to ensuring that farmers have the necessary support and resources for sustained agricultural development and economic growth.
With the global projection of food shortages in the coming years, the national agency has geared up to provide the necessary assistance to farmer-beneficiaries to help them increase their production and counteract the looming crisis.