ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over  P8.5 million-worth of trucks and machinery to  six (6) agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in this province  to elevate and improve the quality of life of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the area.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Engr. Mary Jane A. Aguilar said   the DAR, through the leadership of Secretary John R. Castriciones is ensuring that amidst the pandemic, the support services for the ARBs will remain a priority and unceasingly be provided.

She  disclosed  that the hauling trucks and farm machinery  provided were implemented under the Italian Assistance to the Agrarian Reform Community Development Support Program (IARCDSP) under the microfinance component-agri-enterprise development of the Italian Project.

Aguilar said  the five (5) hauling trucks were turned over each to the following ARBOs: Pangulan-Isulan Irrigators Services Association Inc. of Laguilayan ARC;, SAMAKANA Multi-purpose Cooperative of Bual ARC; Sitio Lagon Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative of President Quirino; STK ARC, Pambansang Mananalon Magbabaul at Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Inc.(P4MP), of Tacurong ARC; and New Calinog Women’s Association of LUV Lebak ARC; while the Kalamansig para sa Kalikasan, Kaunlaran at Kalayaan (KPKKK) received two (2) units of Rice Reapers.

“Maintain the usability of these farm machinery and hauling trucks, as it will greatly help in the transport of crop produce and will significantly reduce hauling fees of your products delivered to market,” Aguilar said.

Shirly Lloyd P. Gonzales, president of Pangulan-ISA expressed his gratitude to DAR and the Italian government for providing them with stepping stones towards a better quality of life for their organization as well as their families.

“Our association has been dreaming of this project for so long. And now that it came true, with this hauling truck provided to us for free, our association will surely grow and develop successfully and we are hoping that it will alleviate us from poverty. On behalf of our association, we humbly thank DAR and the Italian government for all the support given to us,” said Gonzales.

The Italian Project is a foreign-assisted project, funded under the loan agreement executed with the Government of Italy. It aims to address poverty, as well as to elevate the income and livelihood of its beneficiaries, particularly in agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in Mindanao. (DAR)