Butuan city: An Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) cooperative has signed a PHP630,000 marketing agreement with a private catering business during the two-day One-Stop ARBO Caravan on Cooperative Registration, Convergence, and Product Display at Dottie's Place Hotel. The event, organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform in Caraga Region (DAR-13), brought together 34 ARBOs from across the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the caravan, held from January 20 to 21, was inaugurated by DAR-13 Director Merlita Capinpuyan and DAR Undersecretary Josef Angelo Martires. The event also saw participation from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Cooperative Development Authority, and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

A significant moment of the event was the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Sta. Josefa Unified Calamansi Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Agusan del Sur and Bekik Catering Services (BCS) from Trento town. As per the agreement, the cooperative will supply BCS with 1,000 to 3,000 bottles of ready-to-drink calamansi juice, potentially generating PHP630,000 in profit for the cooperative this year.

Fernando Lladore, chairperson of the Sta. Josefa Cooperative, expressed gratitude towards the government and particularly DAR for facilitating connections with business groups and markets. He noted that the potential income from this deal would help the cooperative to expand its business and services within Agusan del Sur and the surrounding regions.

In her statement, Capinpuyan emphasized that the caravan aims to promote ARBOs' local products and identify potential markets, institutional buyers, and business partners. On the same day, LBP handed over a LandBank-ARBO loan for the calendar year 2025, amounting to PHP5 million, to 48 farmers from the Butuan Agusan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Additionally, DAR provided PHP425,000 worth of organic supplements to six ARBOs from various towns in Agusan del Sur to enhance agricultural productivity and cooperative development. Madelin Ocay, the auditor of Katipunan Agricultural Producers Cooperative from Bayugan City, reported that sales of their local farm products reached PHP16,000 during the event.

Jeffrey Aguillon, manager of Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, highlighted that the caravan provided an opportunity to connect with markets and direct buyers for their farm products.