QUEZON CITY -- Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Bernie F. Cruz visited yesterday, January 5, 2022, the Sycip Plantation Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SPFWAC) in Barangay San Jose, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental to assess the damage left by typhoon Odette last December and create a plan of actions to revive the agri-enterprise activities of the said cooperative.

SPFWAC has 312 agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) members with a total production area of 544.17 hectares. Their agribusiness involves the production of sugarcane, mango, shrimps, bangus, cacao and muscovado processing, and credit financing, among others.

Cruz conducted a dialogue with the SPFWAC officials and members to know their needs and concerns for the immediate rehabilitation of their cooperative, whose crops and agri-business structures were badly damaged by the typhoon.

“With the full cooperation of local officials in your province, we would provide the support you need so that you can stand up again and bring back to life your booming enterprise, devastated by the typhoon,” he said to the farmers.

After his visit to Barangay San Jose, Cruz proceeded to Canlaon City to bring relief goods to ARBs and also held a meeting with them on their current problems caused by the typhoon to provide them with their needs in reviving their land productivity.

A day earlier, the Secretary also brought relief goods and conducted a dialogue with the farmers from Bais City and Mabinay town.

Odette is the 15th storm and the strongest typhoon to hit the country last year ravaging a number of provinces nationwide. (DAR)