VIGAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) - - Eleven Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBO) in Ilocos Sur received various farm machineries and equipment from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in an awarding ceremony held at the NSCC Warehouse, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur on Thursday.

Aimed at providing common service facilities to enhance and sustain farm productivity and increase income of ARBs, said activity was funded through the DAR's Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP), which cost a total of P6.5 million.

Among the beneficiaries were the Tignay AR Cooperative of San Vicente town, Sisim Tribal ARBs FA of Cabugao town, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Coops of Caoayan town, Lingsat AR Cooperative of Bantay town, SM South AR Cooperative of Santa Maria town, Southern Santiago AR Cooperative of Santiago town, Salvador Pandayan AR Cooperative of Candon City, Kilang MPC of Galimuyod town, Sumayaat Irrigators Association of Quirino town, Sugpon Food Processors Association of Sugpon town, and the Biagem AR Cooperative of Nagbukel town, Ilocos Sur.

Hand tractors, mechanized rice mills, hauling trucks, winged van and four-wheel-drive tractor, multicab, and manual thresher, among others were some of the machineries awarded during the activity.

Orlando Divina, chairman of the SM South AR Cooperative of Santa Maria town, expressed his gratitude to the government for its continuous support to the farmers in the province especially with their agriculture loss during the onset of Severe Tropical Storm Maring last October.

“Malaki ang naging epekto ng bagyong Maring sa aming bayan lalo na sa mga taniman namin. Halos 25% ng aming mga taniman ay nabaha,” Divina said.

They received a hauling truck which is beneficial for them to transport their crops.

SM South AR Cooperative is composed of more than 200 members who grow various crops such as rice, tomato, tobacco, and corn.

Divina added they have also received a tractor last year from the DAR. (JCR/JPD/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)