DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, October 15 (PIA) -- Over 50 farmers who are members of an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) received P950,000 worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE turned over the check to Jagna Nagbalaye Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Sta. Catalina town for its rice mill project.

Through the rice mill, the agrarian cooperative farmers in Sta. Catalina and neighboring towns can market their milled rice grains at a higher price.

The project aims to address the lack of production and post-production milling facility in the area as they will no longer spend for costly transportation fares just to have their rice milled in the town.

Primo Hepolan, president of Jagna Nagbalaye Agrarian Reform Cooperative, personally received the check in behalf of the cooperative.

“This is a very good news for us. Dili na mamiliti ang mga famers nato ug daku para lang i-byahe pa didto sa lungsod ang ilang ani para mapa-galing. Mahal pud biya ang pliti sa mga habal-bahal (We don’t have to spend much for travel expenses through the habal-habal to bring our rice produce for milling in town)," said Hepolan.

He added that aside from having the residents benefit from the rice mill project, the cooperative will also generate income from the milling charges.

The project is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), which seeks to contribute to poverty reduction, reduce the vulnerability to risks of the working poor, and promote entrepreneurship and community enterprises.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Lilia Estillore is optimistic that the beneficiaries will take care of what they received from DOLE.

“Before any livelihood release is done, we see to it that the beneficiaries fully understand what they get themselves into. That along with the livelihood assistance granted to them is the accountability and responsibility to nurture what is entrusted to them by DOLE,” she said.

The farmer group has also been provided with a project proposal writeshop and other technical assistance, such as seminars and orientations, on simple bookkeeping and project management to make them socially ready.  (JCT/PIA7Negros Oriental with reports from DOLE)