SULTAN KUDARAT – Farmers belonging to the Kalamansig para sa Kalikasan, Kaunlaran at Kalayaan (KPKKK), received over the weekend a multi-purpose building worth P1.188 million and farm machines worth P2.2 million from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Constructed under the Italian Assistance to the Agrarian Reform Community Development Support Program (IARCDSP), the 54-square meter multi-purpose building located at Brgy. Cadiz, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat was turned over to KPKKK, and will directly benefit 185 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as well as 127 farming households in the area.

DAR-Sultan Kudarat Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Mary Jane Aguilar said the building has two units of comfort room, a lavatory, and a movable plywood partition. She said a small portion of the building will be used as an office area and the rest as activity center of the cooperative.

Larry Madriaga, president of KPKKK expressed his gratitude for providing them with stepping stones toward a better quality of life for their organization, as well as their families.

“We don’t need to rent space and go very far now for the training and seminars for our members. This multi-purpose building will help the cooperative’s business ventures,” Madriaga said.

DAR Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Rhea Marie Betque said the same cooperative was also awarded by the DAR-IARCDSP with two units of rice reaper and a hauling truck worth P2.2 million.

“DAR is making sure that amidst pandemic, support services for our agrarian reform beneficiaries are unceasingly provided and is one of our priorities,” said Betque.

The DAR-IARCDSP is funded by the Italian Government in cooperation with the local government units. It covers 12 agrarian reform communities in the province of Sultan Kudarat, spanning nine municipalities. It aims to address poverty, as well as to elevate the income and livelihood of its beneficiaries, particularly in agrarian reform communities in Mindanao.