PBD Staff Writeshop

Liza B. Repotente, CARPO-PBDD gathered her staff for a writeshop in order to prepare the 2017 targets particularly the requirements for regular and partnership programs. The activity includes the preparation of activity and project proposals for Social Infrastructure and Local Capability Building; Sustainable Agri-business and Rural Enterprise Development; Access Facilitation and Access Enhancement Services; Support to Rural Women; and Support to Landowners.

Goats crossed the sea for SRBCC

PARPO Leonito M. Gaveria with Gov. Rodrigueza’s arrival

on site of goat distribution.

Upper Photos: (Left) DAR Sorsogon and 

Magallanes LGU Officers  poses with the governor of Sorsogon.

(Right) The ARB Cooperator of Goat Production Project.

ANOTHER ten (10) healthy goats were distributed to San Rafael Bagatao Consumers Cooperative (SRBCC) on October 6, 2016 by the DAR Sorsogon headed by Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer – II and the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) under the leadership of Dr. Asley De Castro.

It is part of the Sorsogon Agro-Livestock Project implemented by DAR and the Provincial Local Government Unit of Sorsogon. Thomas Diesta, Agricultural Extension Services Point Person saw the potential for goat production of the coconut land tended by Agapito Tordillos, Sr., member of SRBCC, that’s why he coordinated with Ms. Evelyn Aurellano of the Sorsogon PVO in order for the coop to avail such project.

Through the support of Hon. Roberto A. Lee-Rodrigueza, Governor of Sorsogon, and the effort of Lope Galindes, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) of Magallanes, these farm animals were transported to the Bagatao Island.

“We have chosen Tordicillos to be the cooperator of this project because he is an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary and a member of the cooperative,” MARPO Galindes said.

Tordicillos’ initial goal is to multiply the goats until he is able to give ten (10) kids from these to the cooperative. ###

New Realty Tax Payers emerge in Magallanes

The five new CLOA Holders with the

 DAR Sorsogon Officials and the 

Municipal Assesors after the 

CLOA distribution ceremony in Magallanes.

FIVE (5) farmers of five (5) hectares agricultural land in Sta. Elena, Magallanes, Sorsogon owned by Isabel Judit was transformed into landowners after DAR Sorsogon headed by Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer – II distributed the CLOAs. A simple ceremony was prepared for them by Lope Galindes, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer of Magallanes which was attended by Joeme A. Balonzo, Municipal Assessor who sees them as new realty tax payers. He reminded them that the paying of land tax start at the date of the registration of CLOA.

“The taxes go to the LGU but these are also returned to the people. It is where the government gets fund for the construction of facilities like irrigations, farm-to-market roads, solar dryer, and other rural infrastructures,” the Municipal Assessor explained.

Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr., OIC PARPO – I also told them that they can show their cooperation in the program through their productivity because the purpose of CARP is the betterment of their life.

“Your life will not become better if there is no plantation in your farm. Endeavour to join in ARB Organizations and attend trainings for your economic growth,” he said. ###

Expedition provided to APCP learners

The Officers of ARBOs who join the Learning Expedition poses at the grounds of CADECO.

Upper Photos: The group’s stop-over at the SAFADECO MiCoop and Consumer’s Store.

SORSOGON – after the series of trainings related to the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) under the Capacity Development Program of DAR-LBP, the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) have had a Learning Expedition. Although the activity was made only within the province of Sorsogon, the ARBOs appreciated it because they were able to see the different products and services of other ARBOs.

The ARBOs they visited were the Salvacion Farmers’ Development Cooperative (SAFADECO) in Sorsogon City which has a Consumer’s Store, Copra Trading, and microfinance services; the Capuy-Basud Multi-purpose Cooperative (CABAMUCO); and the Sorsogon Agro-Aquatic Development Cooperative (SAADECO) located also in Sorsogon City and both are devoted to rice milling and rice trading; the Castilla Development Cooperative (CADECO)  is a producer of Geonet, Geotextiles, and ropes. Lastly, they went to Bigkis can mga Paraoma sa Bulan, the first successful recipient of APCP. Their business is palay production and rental of Common Service Facilities from the ARCCESS program. ###

Capacitating the ARBOs in Sorsogon

Gubat, Sorsogon – series of trainings to capacitate the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) are being conducted by DAR Sorsogon under the Capacity Development Program.

Last July 14-15, 2016 seventeen (17) cooperatives enjoyed the Effective Communication Skills training the way it was delivered to them by Jenell P. Paghubasan, Chairperson of South-Luzon Federation of Cooperatives (SIDECO). The training focused more on how to deal with people from different walks of life. According to Maribel J. Lubiano, the training facilitator, it is essential for the cooperatives because they made transactions everyday, so they should know the proper way of communicating with people to achieve their goal.

This was followed by Internal Control training on July 28-29, 2016 wherein the same cooperatives were taught about the financial flow in an organization, how to audit based on existing policies, and the critical responsibilities of the Committee on Audit.

These trainings were conducted under the cooperative strengthening program of DAR in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) where the DAR is directed to provide free CDA mandated trainings to the ARBOs.

Meanwhile, trainings in preparation for the application of Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) have also started. This is a partnership program of DAR with the Land Bank of the Philippines which aims to provide the ARBOs an access to finance for production purposes. Last August 10-12, 2016 thirteen ARBOs were trained on Financial Management.

“We would like you to learn how to handle the finances of your associations or cooperatives. We would like you to know how to prepare financial reports properly. If your members are confident with the way your officers manage the finances, better camaraderie will be developed in your organization,” Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr., OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer-I told the participants.

On August 24-26, 2016, another APCP-related training was provided to forty-four (44) representatives of fifteen (15) ARBOs. Through the expertise in entrepreneurship and management of Edward N. Divinaflor, Roselyn O. Oliva, and Maria Edelyn S. Lovedario they were imparted with the knowledge of becoming an entrepreneur (its difference with businessman), agri-business, and marketing. During their workshop, the participants found opportunity to link the meat processing which they learned in a separate skills training, as a way to make income during the “waiting season” in farming.

“We assumed that the reason why you are here is because you are interested to avail our Agrarian Production Credit Program. That’s why, we would like to capacitate you through these trainings. So that in times that you already access this credit service, you will know how to manage your finances in order to prevent loss, but to make it grow, instead,”  Leonito M. Gaveria, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer-II said.

Finally, on September 14-16, 2016 eighteen (18) ARBOs participated in the 3-day training on Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants. Again, this is part of the APCP which is their last training for the year under the Cap-Dev’t Program. ###

Meat Processing: ARBOs’ ideal farming partner

Gubat and Barcelona, Sorsogon – Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) and some women in the community feel lucky for being invited in the Meat Processing Workshop conducted by DAR Sorsogon under the Gender and Development (GAD) Program and Support to Rural Women Program.

“They can use this skills to obtain income specially during the ‘waiting season’ of farming when they are waiting for the forty-five days to harvest again of coconuts, or waiting for the four months to harvest palay,” Leila B. Halcon, GAD point person said.

Confident of their processing, the participants purchase their own produce right after the workshop. The sales become now the ARBO’s capital to start the business. Aside from the skills, they will be provided also with materials and equipment.

“To see them appreciate the projects and services that we offer is enough consolation to our effort,” Julie L. Encinas, Training Facilitator said as she saw the smiles of satisfaction from the participants after the activity. ###

VLPCE Project in Bulan, blooms

Bulan, Sorsogon – two (2) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) is now enjoying the Village-Level Processing Center Enhancement (VLPCE) Project of DAR.

After series of trainings which began with pili candy making, packaging, labeling, marketing, and other related skills the Fabrica Women’s Association (FAWAS) in Bulan, Sorsogon is now producing Mom’s Best Pili Candies and Pastries. Recently, they were taught and informed about a set of sanitation guidelines for the physical and processing operations by Fe G. Bailon, the Resource Speaker in the training on Current Good Manufacturing Practices. The main goal of the training is to ensure the consumers that the manufacturing plant of the food they patronize has an ideal working environment with clean, safe and high quality of food products.

Also in Brgy.Nasuje, Bulan, Sorsogon after series of trainings on food processing, the dried fish products of Antipolo-Namo-Nasuje-Inararan-Calomagon (ANNIC) Multi-purpose Cooperative is now ready for market. The Food and Drug Administration had awarded the cooperative the license to operate. DAR expects that this occasion marks the beginning of economic growth of the five barangays. ###