FIFTY differently-abled members of various agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (Arbos) in Manapla town have joined in an outreach activity and familiarization of their rights and privileges Thursday, October 17.
Participants were from Barangay San Pablo Farmers Association, Merian Small Farmers Association, Small Upland Farmers Development Association, Candelaria Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Candelaria Farmers Association, and Hacienda Sto. Nino United Farmworkers Association.
They first attended the orientation of Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons at Barangay 1-A covered court in the said locality.
The talk was given by Kathleen Mae Trocio, Social Welfare Officer III of Department of Social Welfare Development-Manapla.
Topics included provision of rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance, equal rights and access to employment, education, health, and other auxiliary social services, fare and grocery discounts, as well as fines and penalties for bullying.
Also, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental - North distributed gift packs to the farmer beneficiaries with special needs.
DAR-Negros Occidental I, in a statement, said the activity is anchored on one of the department’s major final outputs, which is the coordinated delivery of essential support services to client beneficiaries.
This is aside from provision of just, safe and equitable society that upholds the rights of tillers to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance their agricultural lands, improve their quality of life towards rural development and national industrialization, it added. (EPN)