QUEZON CITY -- Nine (9) agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the province of Davao de Oro have linked arms to cope up with the rising prices of rice through signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Through the initiative of Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committees (PARCCOM), 9 cooperative member-representative of Davao de Oro Inter-ARBOs Rice Trading (DIART) signed the MoU, stating that ARBOs supplying the rice, would sell their products at a very reasonable price to the consumer-ARBOs.

PARCCOM, the partner of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC), which is the highest policy-making body of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) at the provincial level, is in charge of coordinating and monitoring the programs, activities, and projects implemented by the CARP-implementing agencies at the field level.

PARCCOM Acting Chairperson Jerry Barayuga said the chairpersons and managers of ARBOs are working hand-in-hand to ease the price of rice to benefit the affected poor consumers.

“I’d also like to thank the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for their support to ARB organizations especially during these times,” Barayuga said.

DAR-Davao del Oro Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO) Jupiter Arandela Jr. said the DAR would continue to provide support services in the countryside to empower the farmer-beneficiaries and ARBOs.

Also present during the MoU signing were OIC-PARPO Ellordo Guarlberto, OIC-Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Nancy Ramos, other DAR personnel, and cooperative members. (DAR)