KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province (PIA)—A total of 30 families of school-aged children in Barangay Katilacan, Pikit are now benefitting from the Rural Development and Climate Resiliency Project of the Department of Agrarian Reform which amounts to P1 million.

Under the project, families of school-aged children of Lamuak Elementary School received starter kits on tilapia production, processing, and marketing; goat production and marketing; and organic vegetables production and marketing. Also, they were given garden equipment and tools, and agro-forestry seedlings. The beneficiaries also will undergo capacity development trainings.

During the recent turn-over ceremony, Atty. Ranibai Dilangalen, DAR Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs and Rural Development, said the livelihood support interventions aim to increase farm productivity and income of recipient families while capacitating school-aged children to engage in agri-related activities.

“Our project will become more sustainable if we also impart appropriate farming technologies and provide infrastructure and other facilities,” Dilangalen stated encouraging the recipients to take good care of the assistance.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of agreement was forged among DAR, local government unit of Pikit, Lamuak Elementary School, and Katilacan Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) Farmers Organization to ensure sustainability of the project in the community. Under the MOA, it was stipulated that DAR will closely monitor the implementation activities; LGU-Pikit through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist will provide technical assistance; Lamuak Elementary School will provide guidance and encouragement to students; and Katilacan ARB Farmers Organization will provide labor assistance.

The said project, with funding support from the office of the Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs and Rural Development, will be implemented for five years. (With reports from DAR-Cotabato Province)