QUEZON CITY -- In pursuit of the concept of One-Aklan, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) converged its resources and distributed financial and in-kind assistance to the farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the second district of Aklan.
DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz with Aklan 2nd district representative Teodorico Haresco, Jr. and Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso led the distribution of checks in Naisud Covered Court, Barangay Naisud, Ibajay, Aklan.
Enciso disclosed that the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or “Kabuhayan” distributed cheques in the amount of PhP1-Million as grant to each of the five (5) agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the area.
“These ARBOs are at present performing economic rural enterprises in their respective communities for the benefit of their members,” Enciso said
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Ma. Teresa Valencia said the recipient ARBOs in the Western District are: 1) Numancia Vegetables and Fruit Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NVFFMPC) of Numancia for its consumer store and processing center of fruits and vegetables; 2) Monlaque Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Monlaque, Ibajay for its consumer store enhancement; 3) Kalipunan ng Maliliit na Magniniyog ng Napaan (KAMMANA) Multi-Purpose Cooperative, in Napaan, Malay, for the enhancement of meat shop and rice trading; 4) Fatima Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Bulabod, Malinao for the enhancement of their palay buying and rice trading; and 5) Dumlog Coconut Farmers (DUCOFA) Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Dumlog, Malay for the enhancement of consumer store with rice retailing and wholesaling.
“Because of this assistance they will have good chances of sustaining their enterprises in the midst of recovering from the pandemic,” she said
Meanwhile, a total of sixteen (16) ARBs received indemnity cheques, composed of three (3) ARBs from Ibajay, two (2) from Tangalan, and eleven (11) from Makato, all amounting to 117,000.00. A total indemnity fund worth P3,371,080.50 was provided for 871 fishermen and farmers.
The DA and the PCIC appeased the plight of the farmers and the ARBs who suffered losses from the devastating typhoons that they experienced recently.
To qualify for the coverage under the crop insurance, the beneficiaries are required to be listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) of the DA with their records needed to be updated yearly.
The One-Aklan principle will produce a synergy of assistance that will redound to the desired level of productivity and better food security. (DAR)
