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Top officials from DAR and MAFAR exchange ideas during their meeting at the DAR Central Office.

Officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the economic lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the region.

Bangsamoro Director General for Agrarian Reform Taugan Kikay led the MAFAR delegation during the DAR-MAFAR meeting at the DAR Central Office.

Key officials from both agencies convened on January 30, 2025, at the DAR Central Office in Quezon City to discuss strategies aimed at providing comprehensive support services to Bangsamoro ARBs. The meeting was led by DAR Undersecretaries Amihilda Sangcopan from the Office of Mindanao Affairs and Rowena Taduran from the Support Services Office with Bangsamoro Director General for Agrarian Reform Taugan Kikay heading the MAFAR delegation.

Currently, BARMM is home to 67,777 ARBs, 280 ARB organizations, and 112 agrarian reform communities, all of which are set to benefit from a range of support services designed to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

DAR Undersecretaries Rowena Taduran and Amihilda Sangcopan attentively listen during the DAR-MAFAR meeting at the DAR Central Office.

The support services include infrastructure development, such as farm-to-market roads and bridges; provision of common service facilities like farm implements, machinery, and equipment; support for agri-enterprise development, focusing on community formation and strengthening ARB organizations; Islamic microfinancing schemes; legal assistance; and land tenure support, among others.

Sangcopan highlighted that these initiatives are part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed on November 28, 2023, by DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj.

The MOU formalizes the collaboration between the DAR and MAFAR, ensuring resource sharing and coordinated efforts for the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the region.

Director General Kikay expressed gratitude for DAR’s steadfast support, noting that this partnership will significantly contribute to the success of agrarian reform in Bangsamoro, ultimately empowering ARBs and fostering economic growth in the region.

DAR, MAFAR nagdaos ng pag-uusap upang mapabuti ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka ng Bangsamoro

Muling pinagtibay ng mga opisyal mula sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ang kanilang pangako sa pagpapahusay ng buhay pang-ekonomiya ng mga agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

Ang mga pangunahing opisyal mula sa dalawang ahensya ay nagpulong, noong Enero 30, 2025, sa DAR Central Office sa Lungsod Quezon upang talakayin ang mga estratehiya na naglalayong magbigay ng komprehensibong suportang serbisyo sa Bangsamoro ARBs. Ang pulong ay pinangunahan nina DAR Undersecretaries Amihilda Sangcopan mula sa Office of Mindanao Affairs at Rowena Niña Taduran mula sa Support Services Office, kasama si Bangsamoro Director General for Agrarian Reform Taugan Kikay na namuno sa delegasyon ng MAFAR.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang BARMM ay mayroong 67,777 ARBs, 280 na mga organisasyon ng ARB, at 112 agrarian reform communities, na lahat ay nakatakdang makinabang mula sa hanay ng mga suportang serbisyo na idinesenyo upang mapabuti ang produktibidad at kabuhayan ng agrikultura.

Kasama sa mga suportang serbisyo ang pagpapaunlad ng imprastruktura tulad ng mga farm-to-market na kalsada at tulay; pagbibigay ng mga common service facilities gaya ng mga gamit sa pagsasaka, makinarya, at kagamitan; pagsuporta sa pag-unlad ng agri-enterprise na nakatuon sa pagbuo ng komunidad at pagpapalakas ng mga organisasyon ng ARBs; Islamic micro financing schemes; legal na tulong; at mga serbisyo sa pagmamay-ari ng lupa, at iba pa.

Binigyang-diin ni Sangcopan na ang mga inisyatibong ito ay bahagi ng Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), na nilagdaan noong Nobyembre 28, 2023, nina DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III at BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj.

Isinasagawa ng MOU ang pakikipagtulungan sa pagitan ng DAR at MAFAR, na tinitiyak ang pagbabahagi ng ng yaman at pagsisikap para sa epektibong pagpapatupad ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) sa rehiyon.

Nagpahayag ng pasasalamat si Director General Kikay sa matatag na suporta ng DAR, na binanggit na ang pagtutulungang ito ay malaki ang maiaambag sa tagumpay ng repormang agraryo sa Bangsamoro, na sa huli ay magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa mga ARB at pagpapauunlad ng ekonomiya sa rehiyon.