DAR turns over P1.5M farm equipment to Agusan Norte farmers
BUTUAN CITY -- The Cadahondahonan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (CARBC), a cooperative that has members who are agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte, received an 8-unit portable stripping machines worth P1.5 million on May 27 in Santiago, Agusan del Norte.
DAR Caraga Regional Director Merlita S. Capinpuyan, together with Assistant Regional Director for Admin Joie L. Ceballos, and other key officials from provincial and municipal government units spearheaded the turnover to the agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO).
Glen A. Petilla, provincial agrarian reform program officer II (PARPO II) said that the equipment will increase production of abaca fiber and boost the income of 129 ARBs who are members of the CARBC.
Petilla said that the equipment’s provision is part of DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP).
He also cited the importance of working together as this is just the beginning of a long journey in achieving its goals and challenged the group to bring change, progress, and a resilient future.
In a statement, Ellen Torralba, chief agrarian reform program officer of Program Beneficiaries Division, said that aside from the provision of farm equipment and machineries, the farmers have also undergone various capability interventions and benchmarking to strengthen their organization’s farm technologies in abaca trading.
Joel Tandugon, chairperson of CARBC and one of the abaca farmers in the area, expressed gratitude to DAR-Agusan del Norte for the release of the equipment to their cooperative.
“We are grateful to receive this intervention from DAR. This will help our members, especially those in abaca production,” Tandugon said. (Gil Miranda, DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
