Naburacan IPs at DAR’s threshold

Matnog, Sorsogon – the first recognized Indigenous People in the province of Sorsogon by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) is the Naburacan Tribal Community. According to Diogenes Garbida, Chieftain, their group belongs to Cimaron-Tabangnon.

On March 17, 2017 under the Gender and Development (GAD) program, the DAR Provincial Office of Sorsogon headed by Leonito M. Gaveria conducted an organizational and leadership training to the group. Majority of them are identified as Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs). This activity marks the beginning of DAR’s intervention with the Naburacan Tribal Community.

Through this training and with the presence of Dionebel A. Figueroa, Municipal Administrator they were able to express their desire of having an access road towards their area which is an ancestral domain and protected from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. In behalf of Hon. Claudith So, Municipal Mayor of Matnog, Figueroa said that Naburacan IPs will take a big part in the tourism activities of the locale. This implies that they should have a showcase of their culture if guests visit Naburacan, Matnog.

Related to this, Rosalina L. Bistoyong, USEC of Support Services Office expressed her support during the visit of PARCCOM Sorsogon at DAR Central Office to coordinate with Secretary Piñol of the Department of Agriculture for the funding of the Naburacan farm-to-market road. ###

Turn-Over of the 2nd Water Treatment Facility in Ogod, Donsol, Sorsogon

Turn-Over of FMR in Ogod, Donsol, Sorsogon

SAFADECO reaching out

Castilla and Bulan Satellite Offices

Reaching out the countryside, SAFADECO opened an additional two satellite offices for the convenience of members and would be members.

SAFADECO has truly gone far. From the one peso contribution of its pioneers, its benefits reached two thousand twenty four (2,024) clients starting at a small barangay of Salvacion, Sorsogon City to the whole province of Sorsogon.

The cooperative never stops in making way on how to improve their service. After establishing their satellite office in Irosin which cater the members in that municipality and the nearby municipalities of Bulusan, Juban, Matnog, and Sta. Magdalena, SAFADECO opened another two satellite offices. One is situated at the heart of Castilla to accommodate the members coming from the municipalities of Pilar, and Castilla. The other one is located at the commercial center of Bulan, Sorsogon to serve the large number of customers in that municipality.

“I am so thankful that SAFADECO has now a satellite office here in Bulan. Before, I still go to Irosin to make transaction. By making their office accessible, it’s not only the money for transportation that I can save now but also my time and energy,” Rhodea Gidoc, SAFADECO member in Bulan said. 

The same convenience was felt by Emerlita Maraña. According to her, since the opening of SAFADECO satellite office in Castilla she finds it easy to bring friends to the cooperative.

The opening of SAFADECO satellite offices had also brought ease to the Development Officers and it generated jobs for those qualified applicants living in the area.

It is indeed true that little things like piso (one peso) should not be taken for granted because in time, little things can become big. ###

DAR Sorsogon receive lot

PARPO Gaveria and Mayor Sally A. Lee shake hands after the MOA and DOD signing

This time, it is not the Department of Agrarian Reform gave lot, but rather the receiver. Under the leadership of City Mayor Sally A. Lee, the local government unit of Sorsogon City allotted a 1,131 square meters lot for the DAR Provincial Office of Sorsogon. This morning (March 6, 2017) at around 10 o’clock, Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II signed the Memorandum of Agreement and Deed of Donation at the City Mayor’s Office.

This is in accordance to the government’s one-stop shop policy that all national government agencies shall be located at one area so that it will be more accessible for the public to make transactions. ###

Training on Cacao Production

“Sarong Sorsogon, Satuyang Pauswagon” Bicol’s first great launch of PDPs

Sorsogon’s governor and PARPO II signing the Memorandum of Agreement

Sorsogon, DAR successfully launched the Strategic Alliance Building and Strengthening Partnership Development in Sorsogon on March 2, 2017 at the Provincial Gymnasium attended by Gov. Robert A. Lee-Rodrigueza; City Mayor Sally A. Lee; Atty. Joan Elizabeth Lorenzano Aquende, Mayor of Castilla; Mayor Romeo A. Gordola of Bulan;  Arze Glipo, Provincial Board Member; and other government and private officials.

One of the objectives of this activity is to mobilize resources for the ARBOs, ARBs, rural women and landowners who are willing to engage in enterprise. Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II thanked the strong support and commitment shown by the Governor, Mayors, CIAs, and ARBOs who attended this big event. The government allocated Php9.844 million for these interventions this year.

“This is engaging development partners and taking the pathway of socio-economic stability together. With this goal and battle cry for commitment and hardwork, ‘Pauswagon ta an Paraomang Sorsoganon’, we shall pursue not just one heart, but a multiple of working hands, creative minds, energetic feet, listening ears and gentle lips of stakeholders of Sorsogon and other institutional partners,” Liza B. Repotente, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer for the Provincial Program Beneficiaries Development Division said.

The program involves the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, presentation and symbolic unveiling of the eleven (11) 2017 partnership development projects (PDPs) in the municipalities and five (5) regular programs for ARBs, Rural Women, and Landowners wherein leaders of ARB Organizations, and Head Officials place their signatures on the posters as manifestation of their sincere commitment. The occasion became more sprightly and inspiring with the participation of Sorsogon State College Marching Band led by Elmer P. Esplana.

Mayor Sally A. Lee,

Sorsogon City Mayor

signing the commitment board.

 “It’s very impressive. This is the first time in Bicol that DAR Provincial Office held a great occasion like this that was attended by high officials from both private and public offices. Congratulations to DAR Sorsogon,” Benjar M. Romero, Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer said.

According to City Mayor Sally A. Lee, the local government units are always the front liners of every project. If the policy was not downloaded to the LGUs, it will not be implemented. “What we are doing today is good. There is alliance, not in isolation,” she said.

“We just need hard work and determination to fulfill all these commitments,” Governor Rodrigueza said pointing on the eleven partnership development projects: (1) Agrarian Production Credit Program – Capacity Development; (2) Village Level Farms/Crops-focused Enterprise Development; (3) Social Entrepreneurship; (4) Farm Business School; (5) Community-Manage Potable Water and Sanitation Hygiene; (6) Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty; (7) Program Beneficiaries’ Development Lawyering; (8) Cooperative Strengthening; (9) Climate Change Proofing; (10) Climate Resilience Farm Productivity Project in climate proofed areas; and (11) Sustainable livelihood support for disaster affected areas. ###