Four Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in Valderrama town on Tuesday received PHP2.4 million worth of support facilities for their sustainable livelihood.
The turnover of facilities was part of the 50th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the 33rd anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) celebration in Antique.
DAR regional director Sheila B. Enciso, in her message during the ceremony, said the various support facilities is their way of providing sustainable livelihood to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and their formed ARBOs in the province.
“Antique will soon become Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) free with only a remaining 631 hectares of land for distribution, but then DAR continues to provide support to its ARBs,” she said.
She said Antique has distributed 51,000 hectares of land to the ARBs. It has 16,000 ARBS organized into 31 ARBOs.
“Of the 31 ARBOs in Antique, the four ARBOs in Valderrama that are beneficiaries of these support facilities are then considered fortunate today,” she said.
The Katilingban Kang Mangunguma sa Pandanan (KAMPA) Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which has 192 ARB members, received budget allocation of PHP372,750 for the improvement of its processing center for its peanut-based products such as peanut cookie and peanut butter.
The Buluangan 1, Buluangan 2, and Canipayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative with 331 ARBs received a mini delivery truck worth PHP600,000 to transport their agricultural products.
Enciso also turned over to the Katilingban kang mga Gagmay nga Mangunguma sa Buluangan 2 and Dugman (KMMB2D) a greenhouse with a budget allocation of PHP250,000 for their organic vegetable production.
The Tigmamale Agrarian Reform Cooperative (TARC), which has 51 ARB members, received a PHP1 million grant from the Department of Labor and Employment for additional capital for its peanut trading and selling of other farm inputs.
After the turnover of the support facilities, the KMMB2D also held their graduation from the Integrated Pest Management training with 30 ARBs receiving their certificates from DAR and the Valderrama Municipal Agriculture Office.
The turnover was witnessed by Antique Vice Governor Edgar Denosta and DAR Antique provincial director Florentino Siladan. (PNA)
Source: Philippines News Agency