MORE skills enhancement training for Davao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) organizations and farm workers will be expected for the recently approved P8.202 billion budget of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for 2019.

DAR-Davao Region information officer Ruth Maala said in a text message Friday, December 14 that the proposed budget for next year will greatly help Mindanaon agricultural workers in sustaining agricultural production of their respective farmlands.

In a statement from DAR’s website agrarian secretary John Castriciones said that the budget proposal for DAR-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) was based on the National Expenditure Program comprising of P4.506 billion for personnel services, P3.548 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses, and P147.960 million for capital outlay.

The budget also includes allocation for the following projects on security of tenure amounting to P2.47 billion, ARB development and sustainability programs and foreign-assisted projects amounting to P1.939 billion, and farmer’s rights and welfare amounting to P806 million.

As for the budget breakdown, Davao Region agrarian reform information officer Maala said estimated allocated budget for Mindanao is yet to be determined.

“The agency will still call on regional directors sometime early 2019 to evaluate their respective targets and projected accomplishments for the incoming year. Hence, the results of the conference and the adjustments to be made in the targets would be the determining factor in the allocation of budget per region,” Maala said.

It is to be recalled last December 8, the P8-billion budget was approved by the Senate where Senate Head Committee on Agriculture and Food Senator Cynthia Villar encouraged to allot more funds for the sustainability of ARBs.

Villar underscored the importance of the budget in increasing mechanization productivity in the country’s agricultural sector.