Members of an Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) farming group in the North Cotabato of Tulunan are beneficiaries of a new office building and Cardava banana consolidation facility, courtesy of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The IPs belong to the B’laan Klayag Amda de Du Sansato Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (BKADDS-ARB) Cooperative of Barangay Bacong, Tulunan, according to North Cotabato Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Charish Paña.
Paña led Wednesday’s turnover with the presence of barangay officials and ARB beneficiaries, a statement from DAR-12 said.
He said the PHP543,000 undertaking was built under the Linking Smallholder Farmers to Markets (LinkSFarM) project.
He also recognized the efforts of cooperative officers, Bacong barangay officials, and DAR employees who supported the task and extended the needed help until the project was completed.
“You are fortunate to be selected as the recipient organization for this project because this will improve the pre- and post-marketing activities of your cooperative on collective marketing of Cardava banana,” the agrarian officer said.
Paña encouraged the cooperative members to ensure the sustainability of the facility by establishing sound operation and maintenance policies.
Emelita Mayol, the DAR provincial chief of support services, also underscored the importance of participation, cooperation, and transparency to sustain the project.
“To sustain your collective marketing efforts, you must continuously participate and cooperate, especially in giving your commitment to your respective clusters,” Mayol said.
Gaudencio Ogit, cooperative chair, lauded DAR for the facility, describing it as a “blessing from above.”
“This consolidation center for our Cardava banana will be a big help to the smallholder farmers and the community. This will serve as the center of our operation in collective marketing where the farmers will deliver their produce every Tuesday,” Ogit said, assuring DAR officials they will take care of the facility
Last year, the BKADDS ARB Cooperative also received a hauling truck from DAR in support of their Cardava collective marketing activities.
Source: Philippines News Agency
