AT LEAST 200 students from various elementary and day care schools at Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto in Pontevedra town have received bags and supplies from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-South.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Lucrecia Taberna, who led the distribution at the barangay hall on Wednesday, June 27, said the gift-giving activity is dubbed "Paghalad sa mga Kabataan sang Repormang Agraryo."

It is one of the highlights of the 30th anniversary celebration of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the country, Taberna said.

"This is our way of paying tribute to our agrarian reform beneficiaries. We want them to realize that Carp is not all about land acquisition and distribution. It is more than that," she said, adding that "we have various support services which are geared towards achieving a brighter future for them including their younger generations."

The beneficiaries of the school supplies are from poorest of the poor families, including those from Hacienda Carmen, Hacienda Carmenchica, Hacienda Casal-agan Dyutay and Hacienda Merced, all of the said barangay.

For his part, Pontevedra Mayor Jose Benito Alonso, who was also present during the activity, said the local government is thankful for having such partnership with the agency.

Alonso assured support to the programs and projects of DAR-Negros Occidental II, especially those for the benefit of the town residents.

Meanwhile, the Jollibee-Araneta Branch in Bacolod City also added excitement to the children as it brought surprises to them during the fun games.