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. ###

New PARCCOM PSRs undergo orientation seminar

The PSRs listening attentively to the PARCCOM Chairman

DAR Sorsogon headed by Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, conducted a 2-day seminar to the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) in Sorsogon to orient them on PARC Executive Committee Administrative Order No. 01, series of 1997 in order for them to have knowledge on the latest implementing guidelines strengthening the formation, organization and operation of the PARCCOM; and be aware of the 2017 targets on Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD), Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD), and Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD).

“They needed this seminar because majority of the Private Sectoral Representatives are new to PARCCOM,” Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr. , Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I said. ###

21 Farmers in Barcelona got CLOAs

The CLOA Distribution in Barcelona, Sorsogon

“In 1986 when President Cory Aquino assumed in her office and approved the passage of the Republic Act 6657, after thirty years, here’s your land title. It took a long time because the process is dragging. Anyway, it’s worth the wait,” Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II said during the distribution of Certificate Landownership Award (CLOA) in Barcelona, Sorsogon to the twenty one (21) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) on February 22, 2017.

The ceremony was also attended by Domingo Venus, LBP representative; Cynthia Evasco, Municipal Assessor; and Atty. Manuel Fortes, Mayor of Barcelona who previously worked in DAR as Legal Officer expressing his concern for the tough work of DAR employees in processing the land titling.

Emmanuel M. Preña, the Technical Assistant in Barcelona encouraged the new ARBs to join Bangate Multi-purpose Cooperative or any agricultural organization so that they may have access on support services.

According to Engr. Noli O. Olitin, Chief in Land Tenure Improvement this is the first time that Barcelona had a CLOA distribution ceremony. Engr. Hilario Fruto, Jr. has also expressed his gladness that his municipal agrarian reform office (MARO) was able to contribute on the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) accomplishment of the province.

For the time being, DAR Sorsogon is still doing great effort to distribute more landholdings. The Task Force on Problematic Landholding is having an inventory, review, and validation of problematic landholdings on every municipalities of Sorsogon making their best to transform them into workable so that more farmers would be benefited. ###

SARBIPA soon producer of Dried Danggit

SARBIPA -  just like waking from a long deep sleep, now they are full of energy and inspired by the presence of DAR, they avow to make the Prieto Diaz the center of Dried Danggit in Sorsogon.

On February 21, 2017 Emmanuel M. Preña and Julie L. Encinas, Technical Assistants for Program Beneficiaries Development reorganized the Special Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Indigenous People’s Association (SARBIPA) of Prieto Diaz. The activity was attended by 15 Chieftains and Barangay Chairpersons that composed of thirteen barangays in the Prieto Diaz  Special Agrarian Reform Community (SARC).

Their membership is composed of fifty, twelve of them are officers who pledged to contribute Php500.oo each to start the production of dried Danggit. Danggit is a fish with a rabbit-like mouth which Cebu is popular for this species. DAR promised to assist them in marketing. ###

ARBOs benefit DAR-EastWest partnership

Six ARBOs in the province of Sorsogon have already felt the benefit of DAR – East West Seeds Philippines partnership. 

A. Bonifacio Farmers and Irrigators’ Association (ABFIA) in Bulan, Sorsogon; G. Del Pilar Farmers’ Association (GPIFA), also in Bulan, Sorsogon; Lajong Natural Vegetable Growers Association in Juban, Sorsogon; Sipaya Small Farmers’ Association (SISFA) also in Juban, Sorsogon; BIGKIS Farmers’ Producers Cooperative in Irosin, Sorsogon; and Monbon Farmers’ Association (MonFA) also in Irosin, Sorsogon receives cash and seedlings to start their chosen business.

The DAR funded the project for the trainings of the ARBOs. They were taught how to run the business on Seedloan, and Farm-input loan; they also learned Vegetable Production; and Vermiculture, this is the production of organic fertilizer using worms to decompose organic food waste, then turning the waste into a nutrient-rich material capable of supplying necessary nutrients to help sustain plant growth. This is the business adopted by the BIGKIS. The SISFA chose Vegetable Production to be their business. ABFIA ventured also in Vermiculture but they also have farm-input loan. GPIFA’s choice of business is a combination of Vermiculture and Seedloan. Lajong and MonFA are purely on Seedloan. 

After sharing the knowledge by the East West Seeds Philippines headed by Dr. Roberto R. Acosta, Technology Transfer Manager, they provided the seedlings and cash to ARBOs. ABFIA got a total amount of Php215,932.17; GPIFA got Php151,452.28; MonFA got Php178,803.74; BIGKIS got Php117,985.21; SISFA got 86,163.72; and Lajong got 270,371.11. These are grants that’s why ARBOs are so thankful of this partnership.

According to CARPO Liza B. Repotente, while the Land Tenure Improvement Division (LTID) of DAR provides land to the farmers, it is now their (Program Beneficiaries’ Development Division) turn to provide the support services like this in order to make the land productive.

“During our distribution of CLOA in Irosin last month, I remember the chairman of Bigkis said that they still need DAR’s support because their knees are still weak since they are just beginners. So, with the trainings and the amount granted to you by DAR-East West Seeds partnership you have now the reason to become strong,” Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II said. ###

CLOA and VLPCE Project: LGU & MARO-Irosin’s Christmas Gift to ARBs

The ARBs holding their CLOAs with the employees of DAR Sorsogon,
LGU Irosin, and the Mayor of Irosin.

 Irosin, Sorsogon – back-to-back activity was made by DAR Sorsogon headed by Leonito M. Gaveria, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II with the Bigkis Farmers Producers Cooperative: the distribution of CLOAs consisting of 47.0527 heactares land to thirty two (32) ARBs  and the signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of Village Level Processing Center Enhancement (VLPCE) Project to engage the ARBs in pili production.

PARPO Gaveria and Mayor Cielo during the MOA  signing.

“We’re so glad and thankful because the CARP Implementing agencies with DAR as the leader are helping the small farmers like our organization. We really need your assistance because we are beginners and we are looking forward for a change,” Jesus Lozada, Chairman of Bigkis said.

Danilo Glipo donated an area for VLPCE Project.  ###