THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental - North recently conducted a tripartite seminar-workshop on synchronization of plans and programs relative to the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) in Escalante City.

A two-day activity held at Balay Kauswagan in Sagay City was participated by 115 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from different barangays of the northern Negros Occidental locality.

It was in coordination with the city government, 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army, and Philippine National Police.

DAR-Negros Occidental I, in a statement, said the activity aims to discuss issues relative to the implementation of Carp.

These included the role of the military and police in ensuring the security of farmer-beneficiaries, and the need to align the measures of the agency and city government.

The planning session also included workshop on strategic formulation to counter insurgency as this poses threat to the community, it said, adding that concerns on Carp coverage process were also discussed.

DAR - Western Visayas Regional Director Stephen Leonidas, who spoke at the seminar, stressed the importance of active participation of ARBs in the planning and designing of projects and programs to better address their needs.

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Head Ildefonso Prietos, who represented Mayor Eddie Montero, said the local government is thankful for the services given to their constituents especially farmers.

"ARBs are fortunate that projects and services are now being delivered right at their doorsteps," he said, urging the farmers to cooperate for the program's success.

The activity was also attended by Officer-In-Charge Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Carlos Padilla, Land Bank of the Philippines Agrarian Operations Chief Peter Cañoso, 79th IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan and Civil Military Operation Major Win Love Bag-ao. (EPN)