DAR summit brings P1.2-B investments, support services to boost Caraga farmers’ productivity
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — More than 2,300 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) across the Caraga region stand to gain from over P1.2 billion worth of investments, agricultural support services, infrastructure projects, and livelihood opportunities following the Agrarian Reform Stakeholders Empowerment and Partnership Summit led by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
Held on June 1, the summit was attended by DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, who underscored the Marcos administration’s commitment to strengthening food security, increasing agricultural productivity, and uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers through comprehensive agrarian reform and rural development initiatives.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Roxas-Maligaya-Tagbobonga (ROMATA) Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, which will receive a P1.16-billion investment package over the next five years.
The development initiative is expected to directly benefit 353 agrarian reform beneficiaries from three barangays and two agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs). Through the program, farmers will gain access to farm infrastructure, enterprise development projects, financing assistance, capacity-building activities, and other interventions to increase farm yields and household incomes.
The summit also delivered immediate assistance to farmer organizations in the region.
Two ARBOs, the Sto. Niño Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Butuan City and the Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative entered into marketing agreements that will help farmer-members secure stable markets for their products and improve their earnings.
Meanwhile, four ARBOs representing 403 agrarian reform beneficiaries received 15 units of farm machinery and equipment worth P3.6 million. The equipment is expected to reduce production costs, lessen labor requirements, and improve farming efficiency, enabling farmers to increase productivity and profitability.
Further strengthening rural connectivity, DAR turned over a P50-million farm-to-market road project in Surigao del Norte that will benefit 234 ARBs. The road is expected to ease the transport of agricultural products, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve farmers’ access to markets and essential services.
Secretary Estrella emphasized that agrarian reform goes beyond land distribution and must be complemented by support services that enable beneficiaries to become productive and self-reliant.
The summit reflects President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to empower farmers through sustained government interventions that promote agricultural modernization, food security, and rural economic growth.
DAR Caraga Regional Director Merlita Capinpuyan highlighted the importance of partnerships in advancing rural development.
“Through stronger collaboration, responsive support services, and community empowerment, we can help our farmers achieve greater productivity, improved livelihood opportunities, and a more secure future for their families,” Capinpuyan said.
For local leaders, the gains of agrarian reform are already evident in communities across the region.
Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante noted that government interventions have significantly improved the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
“Our ARBs evolved, and their lives improved,” Amante said, expressing optimism that more farmers would benefit from continued government support and partnerships.
Buenavista Mayor Joselito T. Roble echoed the sentiment, stressing that agrarian reform must translate into tangible improvements in farmers’ quality of life.
“Agrarian reform is not only about land. It is about providing our agrarian reform beneficiaries and farmers with the support they need to become more productive and improve their quality of life,” Roble said.
Among those who have directly benefited from DAR’s programs is Amelia Patalinghog, manager of the Manapa Agrarian Reform Beneficiary and Community Cooperative in Manapa, Buenavista, in the province of Agusan del Norte. She expressed gratitude to DAR and President Marcos for the assistance extended to their organization, particularly the hog-fattening project that has helped generate additional income for cooperative members.
The summit also featured the oath-taking of more than 700 Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) members and the recognition of local government units and partner agencies that have contributed to the successful implementation of agrarian reform initiatives in Caraga.
As part of the continuing implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, Secretary Estrella led the distribution of electronic land titles to 4,372 agrarian reform beneficiaries covering more than 10,130 hectares across the region.
The distribution of land titles advances the Marcos administration’s goal of securing land tenure for farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity, and improving the overall welfare of rural communities, ensuring that agrarian reform beneficiaries not only own the land they till but also have the resources and opportunities needed to create sustainable, prosperous livelihoods. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
