The agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the towns of Aloguinsan and Balamban in Cebu province have all the reasons to smile this coming rainy days after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over two (2) bridge projects with a total cost of P57.6-million.

The bridge projects are implemented under the “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo Project.” The two bridge each cost P28.8 -million, both with a length of 28.80- linear meters.

The bridge in Aloguinsan is located in Barangay Bojo connecting the barangays of Poblacion, Kantabugon and Olango, while the other bridge in Balamban is situated in Barangay Higatmonan connecting the barangays of Tag-amakan, Tagbubunga, Ubogon, Liki and Kabagdan.

DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones said these bridges would eliminate the trouble of the farmers in transporting their agricultural products to various markets and trade centers during the rainy season.

“I learned that they have difficulties travelling to other barangays when the road is muddy and they need to wait for the mud to harden so that they can pass by or they need to travel in a longer route which would involve a more expensive transportation expense. Providing them with these infrastructure projects are very timely,” Brother John said.

Central Visayas Regional Director Resty Osias said the ARBs are very excited to use the bridges because aside from quicker access to markets, the cost of transportation expenses would also become cheaper.

“The DAR keeps on looking for ways to improve the lives of the farmers. We will continue looking after their welfare,” he said.

Aside from the bridge projects, the DAR also distributed a total of 1,263 hectares of agricultural land in the town of Pinamungajan and Toledo City.

Support Services Office Undersecretary Emily Padilla encouraged the recipients of the land to join agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) or cooperatives because the department channels its support services package to these organizations to benefit more ARBs.

“Provisions of infrastructure, farm machinery, equipment, farm inputs, credit assistance, and livelihood training, among other support services of the DAR are given to ensure that the ARBs would be successful in farming and live in comfort,” Padilla said.

May dahilan ang mga ngiti ng mga agrarian reform beneficiaries’ (ARBs) sa mga bayan ng Aloguinsan at Balamban sa lalawigan ng Cebu ngayong panahon ng tag-ulan matapos na sila ay mapagkalooban ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ng dalawang (2) proyekto ng tulay na may kabuuang halaga na P57.6-milyon.

Ang bridge projects ay ipinatupad sa ilalim ng “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo Project.” Ang bawat tulay ay nagkakahalaga ng P28.8 -million, na parehong may habang 28.80-linear-meters.

Ang tulay sa Aloguinsan ay ipinatayo sa Barangay Bojo na kumukonekta sa barangay Poblacion, Kantabugon at Olango, at ang tulay naman sa Balamban ay nasa Barangay Higatmonan na kumukonekta sa mga barangay ng Tag-amakan, Tagbubunga, Ubogon, Liki at Kabagdan.

Ayon kay DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones, papawiin ng mga tulay ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga magsasaka sa pagbibyahe ng kanilang mga produkto tuwing panahon ng tag-ulan.

“Napag-alaman ko na hirap na hirap silang bumiyahe sa mga karatig na barangay dahil sa maputik na daraanan at kailangan pa nilang patigasin ang putik o dumaan sa ibang ruta kung saan mas malaki ang kanilang nagagastos sa pagbibiyahe. Kaya’t napapanahon ang pagkakaloob sa kanila ng proyektong ito,” ani Brother John.

Sinabi naman ni Central Visayas Regional Director Resty Osias na nasasabik na ang mga ARB na gamitin ang mga tulay dahil bukod sa mapabibilis nito ang kanilang biyahe, mas makamumura pa sila sa gastos sa pagbibiyahe.

“Ang DAR ay patuloy na humahanap ng mga paraan upang mapabuti ang pamumuhay ng mga magsasaka. Patuloy naming pangangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan,” aniya.

Bukod sa 2 tulay, namahagi rin ang DAR ng 1,263 ektarya ng lupa sa bayan ng Pinamungajan at Toledo City.

Hinimok ni Support Services Office Undersecretary Emily Padilla ang mga tumanggap ng lupa na sumapi sa mga agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) at mga kooperatiba kung saan nagkakaloob ang ahensiya ng mga support services package upang mas maraming ARBs ang makinabang.

“Ang pagbibigay ng imprastraktura, makinaryang pang-bukid, mga kagamitan, farm inputs, credit assistance, at livelihood training ay ilan lamang sa mga suportang serbisyo na ibinibigay ng DAR upang maseguro ang pag-asenso ng mga ARBs at mamuhay sila ng komportable,” ani Padilla.