PARPO Gaveria effects Claim Folder Validation and Monitoring in DARMOs

Upon his coming, the new OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II in Sorsogon, Leonito M. Gaveria performs a DARMO to DARMO visit with the CF Validating Team to validate the Claim Folders in the field offices as well as to monitor its development.

“We made this activity to check the status of the landholdings as against the OpTool,” he said.

 He expects that one month after, all the recommendation which the team given to MARPOs will be applied.

PARPO Gaveria now holds the key of leadership in DAR Sorsogon

March 16, 2015 marks the change in leadership at DAR Sorsogon as Leonito M. Gaveria receives the key of being an OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II from Felix E. Fruto who is now the OIC PARPO I after Gay L. Labad moved to Camarines Sur.

The goal however in leadership remains, to distribute the CARPable landholdings to deserving ARBs.

Organic Tilapia Production, new business offered by DAR to farmers in Bulusan

Project Site Visitation

DAR Sorsogon conducted Basic Training Course in Organic Tilapia Production for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in Bulusan ARC (Agrarian Reform Community). This is to strengthen the economic condition of the agricultural farmers by increasing their agricultural productivity through diversified farming technologies. Again, this project is made under the ARCCESS (Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services) program.

“Bulusan ARC is gifted with fresh water resources coming from the forest area of Mount Bulusan. The abundance of fresh water can be used to grow tilapia in backyard fishponds in organic way. Growing tilapia under organic system will conserve and protect the fresh water resources from nitrate contamination which results from excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers are used to accelerate the growth of planktons that serve as feeds for tilapia under conventional system of growing. Likewise, the food requirement of the agrarian reform beneficiaries’ households will be provided because of this project,” said Thomas M. Diesta, ARCCESS Point Person.

In this two-day training, the participants were taught about the basic concepts, and principles of raising tilapia on a backyard and commercial scale. They were provided with knowledge in growing tilapia under the organic system; hands-on fishponds construction and development; skills on applying strategies on sustainable tilapia production; and the preparation of localized action plan and mechanism for sustained adoption of the organic agriculture farming.

“That’s why nowadays agrarian reform is not just concentrating on land acquisition and distribution, the program is already moving to the next step which is giving assistance to the beneficiaries to improve their household income. Tilapia production is just one way. The sufficient water supply in Bulusan makes the area ideal for this business, thus, they were chosen for this project. But because it is new to them, DAR is giving them the professional services which is one of the agreements in ARCCESS program,” said Leonito M. Gaveria, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II.

Out of the forty-five (45) training attendees, eighteen (18) of them have already available ponds for hatchery and fattening who confirmed to join in this entrepreneurship. According to Diesta, they will be receiving free fingerlings in May.

DAR Sorsogon: as land is treasured so is the water

It’s time-out in land acquisition and distribution (LAD) activities as DAR Sorsogon joins in the celebration of World Water Day 2015 through participating in the clean-up drive along the Sorsogon Rempeolas at Sorsogon Bay.

Training on Fabric Conditioner and Dishwashing Liquid Making under Gender and Development

Recently, DAR Sorsogon under the Gender and Development (GAD) program conducted a livelihood training which was facilitated by Leila Halcon, GAD point person. This is the making of Dishwashing Liquid, and Fabric Conditioner through the use of some laboratory-chemicals.

The training was attended mostly by women in Bangate, Barcelona, Sorsogon who are members of Bangate Multipurpose Cooperative (BAMUCO). After learning the skills, they were inspired to produce more under their cooperative name. Dishwashing liquid and fabric conditioner are both everyday-use in households, thus they believe that their organization will not have any difficulty in marketing the product.

Trainor's Training under ARCCESS

A four-day Trainors’ Training on Modernize Rice Production Processing and Marketing was conducted under the partnership of DAR and DA. This training is part of the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program which aims to increase the production of farmers and engage in agri-based enterprise so that they would not leave their awarded land.

This activity was participated by different Officers of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) from Bulan, Castilla, and Sorsogon. They were taught about the characteristics of irrigated, rainfed, and upland rice ecosystems; the principles and concepts of palay check or the Palayamanan System; land preparation and crop establishment, nutrient management; water management; integrated pest management; harvesting and post-harvesting management; rice rationing; climate change ready technology of rice; concepts of community seed banking; farm planning and record keeping; and the rice marketing concept. They were also given an overview of Organic Agriculture and the Organic Act of 2010 (RA 10068). Resource speakers came from the Provincial Agriculturist Office of Sorsogon, and Agricultural Training Institute of Pili, Camarines Sur. The activity ended with an exposure trip to Brgy. Capuy, Sorsogon City wherein farmers in this area are already using this technology.