MALUNGON, Sarangani -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over P1.2 million worth of coffee machinery and equipment to two agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the Municipalities of Maitum and Malungon.

On April 27, DAR Sarangani formally turned over farm machinery and equipment to Upo Valley Farmers Association (UVFA) at Barangay Upo, Maitum, and on May 3 to Inag Coffee Farmers Association Inc. (ICFAI) at Barangay Lower Mainit, Malungon.

The grant is part of the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARC) program under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) Project.

The CRFPS Project aims to improve agrarian reform communities by providing farm machinery and equipment to Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs). The project also seeks to enhance the resilience of these communities vis-a-vis the impacts of climate change by improving their capacity to mitigate and adapt to current climate trends.

UVFA President Kubli Kusin and ICFAI President Baby Lyne Takyawan received the turnover certificates on behalf of their respective associations.

The turnover ceremonies in Maitum and Malungon were attended by DAR personnel and organizations. In Maitum, DAR Assistant Regional Director for admin and ARBDSP H. Roldan A. Ali, Al-hajj, OIC-PARPO I Engr. Ramonito C. Marciano, CARPO-LTI Bernard E. Catapang, MARPO Antonette B. Villanueva, and staff from DARPO and DARMO Maitum, as well as members of UVFA, were present.

Meanwhile, the event in Malaungon was attended by OIC-PARPO I Engr. Marciano and CARPO John H. Gamad from DAR Sarangani, along with DARPO and DARMO Malungon staff, Barangay Affairs in-charge Monard Galgo, USAID Safe Water representative Rogelio Acosta, Barangay Kagawad Claudine Esteban, Robusta Q Grader Arnel Cadeliña, and Sarangani Coffee Council Chairperson Renny Boy Takyawan, along with members of ICFAI.

"The project provides livelihood opportunities for our farmers. This program helps our farmers by introducing new processing technology for coffee. It helps increase their income and protects our environment from the threat of climate change,” Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer John H. Gamad said.

CARPO Gamad said DAR encourages ARBOs to become farmer-entrepreneurs in their communities, urging other farmers to organize and register their organizations to access grants from various government agencies and NGOs. He expressed gratitude to their partners and coffee mentors for their support and prodded other government agencies to support the farmers.

Recently, ARBs in Mindanao are experiencing an influx of support from the government after DAR officially established various Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) such as the Mabida Agrarian Reform Community Cluster and Migkasambok ARC in Malungon, Sarangani.

The UVFA is a component of the KaMiPo ARC, established in 2019, which includes the barangays of Kalaong, Mindupok, and Upo in the municipality of Maitum. Meanwhile, the Migkasambok ARC was formed in 2020, comprising the barangays of Upper Mainit, Lower Mainit, San Roque, and San Miguel in the municipality of Malungon.

An ARC is a barangay or cluster of contiguous barangays within a municipality where the majority of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)-covered lands have been awarded to a critical mass of ARBs and various support services are provided by the DAR.

Support services such as bridges and farm-to-market roads are more easily provided within ARCs. These services connect farmers to commercial areas where they can sell their produce. The goal of ARCs is to empower farmers to become active participants in the local economy and ultimately to the development of the country’s agriculture industry. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Sarangani Coffee Industry Development Council)