Coping
hunger with DAR’s ARBold Move Project: The Arturo Libajan Story
By Rechel D. Besonia
There
are people who love the land and who work hard to make their land the best it
can be. They worked hard if only to feed millions of people and ensure food
security. They are called Farmers.
Being a farmer is like being
a priest. They take a vow of poverty and make a pact with the Lord that no
adversities will come and the income will remain stable for the family to
survive.
Just like any other farmer,
Arturo Libajan, wished the same, after all, he has no other means to feed his
family but farming.
Growing up in a small farm of
Barangay Azpetia, in the capital town of Agusan del Sur, he used to plant
banana in a two hectares farm lot. “Ang pagpanguma sa unang panahon lahi
ra jud sa karon. Lisod kaayo sauna, grabe nga trabaho apan gamay nga kita
(Farming in those days, as I suspect it is now, was an austere life. Lots of
hard work with very little compensation),” he said.
He did not pursue college;
thus, he was ascertained of venturing into farming. He met Aquilino Morata who
then owned vast farmland but was incapable of taking good care of it. Without
any written agreement and monetary obligation, they agreed that Tatay Arturo
can till and manage a certain area on the farm.
Over the years, he had made
the banana farm productive and was able to provide the needs of his family, not
losing a single hope despite not having any piece of land on his own.
But being an active and
vibrant man, he loved life and was a hard worker. He always thought that every
hard work comes with a great reward in the end.
Indeed, it is. It was not so
long when the farm lot was covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
and Tatay Arturo become the landowner himself in the year 2019.
“Dako akong kalipay sa dihang
nadawat nako ang akong titulo. Dili gyud ko makatoo nga sa katuguwangon nako
makapanag-iya pako sa akong yuta ug aduna akong ikabilin sa akong mga apo (I am
very grateful when I received my title. I can’t believe that in my age I was
able to became a landowner myself. Thanks to DAR for I have now something to
give to my grandchildren),” he said.
The whole family has felt an
improved and more comfortable life since then.
But things have changed in
the time of a global pandemic. What used to be abundant became a nightmare for
Tatay Arturo. The banana farm income has come to a complete turnout.
He cannot deliver the newly
harvested bananas to the buyers due to lockdown. Travel restrictions and
impeded movement have contributed to the huge loss of his income. Thus, he
ended up looking for assistance from the government.
The night before the
distribution of the food packs, Tatay Arturo said he was insomniac. “Dili jud
ko makatulog kay anaa sa akoa akong mga apo ug naglibog ko asa ko magkuha
pagkaon nga dli man ko makagawas kay Senior Citizen, bisag moadto sa uma bawal
man (I hardly get myself to sleep because I am thinking where to get food
for my family especially for my grandchildren who are with me. I cannot even go
to the farm because I am already a Senior Citizen),” he said.
Tatay Arturo has received
relief aid from LGU but has already run out. He was looking forward to the next
relief but it seems it will not be distributed anytime soon.
“Dako akong kalipay sa dihang
si Kap niadto sa balay ug nagpahibalo nga paadtoon ko sa Barangay Hall kay usa
ako sa makadawat sa ayuda gikan sa DAR. Dako gyud akong pasalamat kay pag uli
nako sa balay nagbitbit nako ug bugas para among makaon (I am so happy
when the Barangay Captain told me to go to the Barangay Hall because I am one
of the lucky beneficiaries who will receive the aid from DAR. I am happy even
more when I got home with me with the food packs for us to eat),” he added.
The distribution of food and
non-food packs is the agency's response to RA 11469 Bayanihan to Heal as One
Act, the “PaSSOver: ARBold Move for the Deliverance of our farmers from COVID
19 pandemic” which intends to provide immediate and essential support to the
farmer-beneficiaries, mitigate the impact brought about by the ongoing
community quarantine and address the demands affecting the agricultural sector
upon the start of the "new normal".
The ARBold Move Project has
four (4) main components: (1) Support to ARBOs as Front liners in the Food
Supply Chain; (2) Farm Productivity Assistance to ARBs; (3) Livelihood Support
for Women in Crisis Situation and (4) Package of Supplemental Food and Non-Food
Items.
A total of 992 qualified
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries all over the province has received the
supplemental food and non-food packs led personally by PARPO II Jamil P.
Amatonding Jr. and other members of the Management Committee.
PARPO Amatonding said that
although the packs cannot be compared to those relief goods given by the LGUs
and other agencies, however, it is enough to withstand hunger for the next
three (3) days or more.
He further emphasized that
DAR, through the directive of Secretary John R. Castriciones has always valued
the importance of the farmers as the front liners in terms of food security to
ensure that there is a constant supply of food in the table in a time of a
global crisis.
“DAR has always found
the means to help the ARBs who are greatly affected by the global pandemic,” he
said. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, June 11 -- The Commission on Population
and Development (POPCOM) and its partner agencies in the Pre-Marriage Orientation
and Counseling (PMOC) Program eye uninterrupted provision of information and
services to fully equip the Filipino couples with appropriate knowledge and
skills for successful and harmonious married life amidst trials, particularly
during COVID-19 pandemic.
This was learned in the virtual conference of the Regional Population
Executive Board (RPEB ) on May 28 as hosted by POPCOM-Caraga, and echoed in the
virtual media briefing with the Philippine Information Agency on June 1.
Alexander A. Makinano, POPCOM-Caraga Regional Director, highlighted the
importance of assisting the Filipino couples to become more responsible in
their decisions and choices especially in matters involving the health and
safety of their family especially during the national health emergency.
PMOC has been designed by POPCOM with the Department of Health,
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local
Government, and Philippine Statistics Authority as a crucial first step prior
to getting married, according to RD Makinano. He continued that the program has
been implemented to guide the couples that the decision to get married
must be well thought out, and must be made only after careful consideration,
thorough understanding, and ample preparation.
In the ordinary times, all marriage license applicants are required to
attend the Pre-Marriage Orientation to be conducted by a team of facilitators
at least four hours. However, applicant couples at least one member of which is
18-25 years old, must also attend the Pre-Marriage Counseling to be conducted
by an accredited pre-marriage counselor.
Following the Joint Advisory 2020-01 issued by the said national
government agencies, the existing protocols as well as sessions content and
methodologies shall be provided to a maximum of four (4) couples while
strictly observing physical distancing of at least three feet or 1 meter apart.
In the entire duration of the session, strict use of face mask or other
protective equipment must be also followed.
With the help of the audio-video presentation (AVP), the facilitators
should refrain physical interaction between and among the couples.
The PMOC Team of the city and municipal LGUs are required to conduct the
PMO session at a minimum of two hours while the PMC session at a minimum of one
and half hours and with both sessions conducted within the same calendar day
complying all other public health standards, such as temperature check and
other health examination, personal protection and hygiene, cleanliness of facilities,
and safety use of equipment.
The team is given an option to conduct non-interactive session where
couples are participating outside of the PMOC session hall and in their
respective homes. The standard 15 couples for the PMO and 6 couples for the PMC
can be accommodated under this mode.
As provided for under the interim guidelines, the PMOC Certificates are
considered valid for a period of one year from its issuance. In the event that
the issued marriage license to a would-be couple expires without being utilized
due to the difficulty brought by the public health emergency prompting
the couple to re-apply for the same, the previously issued PMOC certificates
may still be used by the would-be couple without the need to attend to attend
the PMOC sessions.
The assistance to the LGUs in the conduct of PMOC services are among the
functions of the concerned NGAs in these trying times. (POPCOM Caraga/PIA
Caraga)
DAR’s ARBold Move
project rolls out in Agusan Norte province
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, June 11 -- In response to the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del
Norte rolled out its contingency plan tagged as “The PASSOver: ARBold Move for
Deliverance of ARBs from the COVID-19 Pandemic" (ARBold Move) to lessen
the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) hardship in this time of devastating
crisis.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer for Agusan del Norte,
Andre B. Atega, CESO V, said the project is the agency’s response in accordance
with the provision of Republic Act 11469 of the Bayanihan to Heal as One
Act.
Atega noted that the agency’s contingency plan aimed to support its
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) who considered as front liners in food
security.
DAR’s officer-in-charge Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer of the
Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD), Ellen J. Torralba, said the
province allotted P3,297,398.00 million to cover four main components.
The four main components includes Support to ARBOs as frontlines in the
Food Supply Chain during pandemic, Farm Productivity Assistance to ARBs the
includes seedlings and farm inputs, Livelihood Support for Women during
the pandemic and Package of Supplemental Food and personal hygiene products,
Torralba said.
The DAR’s provincial and municipal task force of this province conducted
series of distribution of relief good on May 29, June 3 and 4, 2020.
A total of 2,307 ARBs received relief goods worth 500 pesos each and
distributed to the beneficiaries from different areas in the province.
It contained four kilos of rice, three canned goods, four noodles and
other household needs such as two bath soaps, 20 pieces of vitamin C, and three
face masks.
During the distribution, agrarian-farmers expressed gratitude to DAR’s
respond in order to mitigate the farmers who already feel more painfully during
the time of recession.
On the other hand, Torralba emphasized that the second and third
components are farm productivity and livelihood support slated for distribution
in second week of June to different agrarian reform communities in the
province.
Data from project proposal stipulated that some 683 agrarian reform
beneficiaries are to be provided farm productivity assistance worth 2,165 pesos
each to ensure that their agricultural production and livelihood will continue
during this public health crisis,” Torralba added.
Torralba added that another 15 more ARB women were chosen to receive
livelihood support worth P15 thousand per women in crisis for their hog raising
activity. (DAR Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Selebrasyon sa 53rd
Araw ng Agusan del Norte sugdan karong Hunyo 12
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hunyo 11 -- Sugdan karong Biyernes, Hunyo 12 ang
unom ka adlaw nga selebrasyon sa ika 53 nga kasumaran sa pagka himugso sa
Agusan del Norte isip probinsya ug matapos sunod Miyerkules, Hunyo 17.
Ablihan ang unang adlaw sa selebrasyon pinaagi sa usa ka misa nga
pagabuhaton sa may alas 6 ang takna sa buntag sa Sto. NiΓ±o Shrine sa Barangay
Libertad sa dakbayan sa Butuan ug sundan sa flag raising ceremony sa kapitolyo
nga masaksihan sa katawhang Agusanon online pinaagi sa Youtube ug Facebook.
Sa maong buntag, himoon ang paglunsad sa Women’s Challenge Tiktok, ang
indigay pinaagi sa video nga abli lamang sa mga nanay ug mga lola sa probinsya.
Ang Tiktok usa ka teknolohiya sa internet nga naggikan sa Beijing, China diin
gigamit sa pagmugna og mubo nga sayaw, lip-sync, comedy ug talent nga videos
nga nabantog na sa daghan nasod sa kalibotan ug sa Pilipinas ning panahon sa
community quarantine tungod sa COVID-19 pandemic. Gisugdan na matod pa karong
simanaha ang pagdawat sa Tiktok video entries gikan sa mga musalmot. Sa maong
adlaw, himoon usab ang paglunsad sa Poster Slogan Contest ug Pinaka Contest,
kini indigay sa mga pinakadako nga gulay o unsa mang lagotmon gikan dinhi sa
probinsya. Ang mga mudaog sa nasangpit nga mga indigay buhaton sa Hunyo 17,
adlawng Miyerkules, ang kulminasyon nga adlaw sa maong selebrasyon.
Sa Hunyo 15, Lunes, pagabuhaton ang Arbor Day, adlaw sa pagtanom og
seedlings sa kahoy nga himoon sa Barangay Sanghan sa Cabadbaran City duol sa
bag-ong gambalay sa Kapitolyo.
Pagka Martes, Hunyo 16, pagabuhaton ang swine dispersal o ang
pag-apod-apod og baktin ug plantlets sa prutas nga saging sa Los Angeles Demo
Farm syudad sa Butuan ug ang paglunsad usab sa Indigay Gulayan sa Kabatan-onan
nga salmotan sa onse ka mga partisepante nga miyembro sa Sangguniang Kabataan
sa syudad sa Cabadbaran ug 10 ka munisipyo ning probinsya. Matod pa, ang maong
indigay mudagan og tulo ka bulan gikan Hunyo 16 hangtod Septyembre 15 ning
tuiga, ayha pa ang proklamasyon sa mananaog.
Pagka Miyerkules, Hunyo 17, ilunsad ang Agus E-Market. Kini matod pa,
bag-ong pamaagi sa pagbaligya og nagkadaiyang lagotmon ug lokal nga produkto sa
onse ka LGU sa probinsya pinaagi sa social media (Facebook).
Pagka alas Dos sa maong adlaw, himoon ang Governor’s Report ni
Gobernador Dale B. Corvera atol sa ika-6 nga Special Session sa Sangguniang
Panlalawigan sa SP Session Hall nga masaksihan live sa social media, (Youtube
ug Facebook), sukwahi sa naandang State of the Province Address (SOPA) sa mga
naglabay nga mga gobernador ning probinsya nga ginatambongan sa tanang
opisyales sa gobyerno. Kini tungod aron malikay sa sakit nga COVID-19 nga padayon
pa gihapong ginabuntog sa mga kaigsuonan sa tibook kalibotan ug dili
matapos hangtod dili madiskobrehan ang tambal (vaccine) alang niini.
Unod sa Governor’s Report ni Gob. Corvera ang mga nakab-ot sa Agusan del
Norte sugod niadtong Hulyo 1 hangtod Hunyo 30 ning tuiga 2020; ang plano sa
administrayon sa umaabot nga mga tuig; ug ang kasamtangan paningkamot sa mga
opisyales sa probinsya batok COVID-19.
Kahinumduman nga pinaagi sa R.A. 4979 kaniadtong Hunyo 17, 1967, gitunga
ang probinsya sa Agusan ngadto sa duha ka probinsya nga Agusan del Norte ug
Agusan del Sur. (JVDemain, LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Brigada Eskwela,
Oplan Balik Eskwela inilunsad sa SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
 |
| Dinaluhan ni Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel ang pormal na pagbubukas
ng Brigada Eskwela at Oplan Balik Eskwela ng Tandag City Division na
pinamumunuan ni DIvision Supt. Imelda Sabornido. |
LUNGSOD NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Hunyo 11 (PIA) -- Sa gitna ng
pakikipaglaban sa krisis dulot ng coronavirus disease 2019 o COVID 19,
matagumpay na inilunsad ng Department of Education (DepEd) Surigao del Sur
Division na pinamumunuan ni Superintendent Josita Carmen at Tandag City
Division na pinamumunoan ni Superintendent Imelda Sabornido ang pagsisimula
kamakailan ng Joint Brigada Eskwela at Oplan Balik Eskwela sa probinsya ng
Surigao del Sur sa magkahiwalay na okasyon.
Binansagan na “Bayanihan sa Paaralan,” ang ginawang programa ng DepEd-Surigao
del Sur Division ay nasaksihan online sa pamamagitan ng live streaming via
DepEd Tayo-Surigao Division Facebook account.
Samantala ang Tandag City Division naman ay idinaos sa Tandag Central
Elementary School Covered Court sa Tandag. Bilang pagsunod sa itinakdang
minimum standard ng Department of Health, ang ibang internal at external
stakeholder-partners ay nakilahok sa pamamagitan ng virtual na partisipasyon
via internet kung saan ipinaabot ang kanilang mensahe ng pagsuporta sa mga
programa nang DepEd.
Personal na dumalo si Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel sa Tandag City
Division, at sinabi nya na 100% na sumusuporta ang lokal na pamahalaan ng
Tandag basta’t para sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Kaparte ng kanyang suporta
ang hiniling na halos umabot sa P900 thousand para sa reproduction ng modules
na aprobado na ng lokal na pamahalan, ayon pa sa opisyal.
Sa mensahe ni DepEd Caraga Regional Director Francis Cesar Bringas na
pinaabot sa parehong okasyon, binigyan diin nito ang hamon ng pagtutulungan at
pagkakaisa ang kailangan para sa masiguro ang kabutihan ng bawat kabataang
mag-aaral. “We should help each other now, to safeguard the future of our
children. Huwag na wag tayong sumuko, gamitin natin ang lakas at tibay ng ating
pagkakaisa,” sabi pa niya.
Batay sa report ni Asst. Division Superintendent Jasmin Lacuna, umabot
na sa 18,355 ang mga nagpa-enrol sa Surigao del Sur Division noong Hunyo 3;
10,893 – sa publikong elementarya; 389 – sa pampublikong sekondarya; 535 – sa
pribadong elementarya; 389 – sa pribadong sekondarya; at 300 - naman ang
Alternative Learning School (ALS).
Sa Tandag City Division naman, umabot sa kabuuwang 2,901 ang na-enrol sa
pampublikong paaralan noong Hunyo 5; 2,152 ang elementarya; 384 ang Junior High
School; at 365 ang Senior High School. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
