No. of :

No. of Shares:

Currently viewed by: Marcus Rosit

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. DAR powers up agrarian reform organizations

DAR powers up agrarian reform organizations

Write a comment

Delete

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) -- A total of 40 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) received more than P6.2 million worth of farm machinery, equipment, and facilities in Capiz support from the Department of Agrarian Reform under its Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs) project.

The Progressive Women Agrarian Reform Cooperative (PWARC) from Barangay Gibato in Dumarao town has more than 4,000 members from Capiz, Aklan, and Iloilo, consisting of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), farmers, rural women, and small entrepreneurs is one of the 40 beneficiaries.

EditDelete
The PWARC officers and members. (Photo courtesy of Ma. Cecilia Ibabao)
Delete

PWARC chairperson Ma. Cecilia Ibabao said their cooperative has been an ARB for almost 25 years and shared how grateful they are to DAR for without its interventions and help, their cooperative would not grow.

“Ginpa-undergo nila kami sa different trainings para magdako kami kag maging independent. Halin sang 1999 nga nagstart kami, pila na ka mga DAR secretaries ang naglabay, ara sila gihapon nga naga-guide kag ginabuligan kami (They helped us undergo various trainings so that our business can grow more and we can become independent. Since we started in 1999, many DAR secretaries have passed by, and still, they are there to guide and help us),” Ibabao added. 

Delete

The PWARC, which started in 1999, now has a huge production of calamansi juice with 1,500 bottles and 25 kilos of banana chips daily that they regularly deliver to schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and fast-food chains in the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, and Iloilo. 

Ibabao shared that through the assistance of DAR-Capiz, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, and the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) Philippines, their products are now Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. 

Apart from calamansi and banana chips production, they also have an inland resort, catering services, scholarship programs for elementary and high school students, and a microfinance program that lends money to members. 

According to Ibabao, this microfinance is another program given to them by DAR which further increases their productivity and the income of their members.

EditDelete
Ongoing construction of solar powered modern greenhouse facility with hydroponics. (Photo courtesy of Ma Cecilia Ibabao)
EditDelete
An overview of PWARC’s inland resort named Golden Site. (Photo courtesy of Golden Site Resort FB page)
Delete

The PWARC will again receive a P1.3 million project from DAR for the construction of their solar-powered modernized greenhouse with hydroponics.

“Sa subong ongoing pa ang construction sa greenhouse, pagagamiton namon to para sa amon nga vegetable garden para madugangan ang amon nga produkto kag additional attraction siya sa amon nga resort (Right now, the construction of the greenhouse is still ongoing, we will use it for our vegetable garden to increase our production and create an additional attraction in our resort),” Ibabao said.

EditDelete
During the distribution of farm machinery and equipment to 40 ARBOs in Roxas City. (Photo courtesy of Capiz Provincial Govermnent Communications Group)
Delete

DAR-Capiz has distributed one unit of 90HP 4-wheeler drive tractor, 10 units of hand tractor with engine, four units of rice floating tiller with engine, three units of rice thresher with engine, two units of corn sheller, two units of rice reaper, 621 packs of organic fertilizer, and a 215 square meters of hydroponics greenhouse facility with solar power to 40 ARBOs in the province. 

DAR Assistant Regional Director Lucrecia Taberna trusts that the equipment and machinery the agency has provided will help solve the problems of the farmers who lack the tools.

Meanwhile, Gov. Fredenil Castro said that the provision of machinery to farmers proves that the government is serious in its efforts to develop the agriculture sector.

Delete

"Kay kamo ang mangunguma, kamo ang baganihan sang tanan (Because you are the farmers, you are the hero of all),” Castro added. (AGP/PLF/PIA Capiz)

About the Author

Pia Lorraine Francisco

Information Officer

Region 6

Related News

Feedback / Comment

Get in touch