IN A bid to ensure efficiency, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-North is monitoring the projects it implemented for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Bacolod City.
The DAR, through its Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD), recently assessed the status of hog fattening business of Cabutongan Carp Beneficiaries Association and poultry and livestock feeds supply of Benez ARB Farmers Association, both located in Barangay Alangilan.
These businesses were granted to the agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (Arbos) through the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARBs Project (Claap) to help farmers generate income for their organization so to reduce poverty in their area.
Melanie Guilaran, agrarian reform program technologist of the PBDD, underscored that the success of a project does not end at its delivery to the ARBs.
Its real success, Guilaran said, is measured by the tangible improvements in the lives of the farmers after utilizing the delivered support services.
"We monitor them so to know where to give additional support to ensure the project's sustainability," she added.
The Claap is a joint collaboration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in support to the DAR's thrust to expand and increase farmers' access to economic opportunities.
The project also expands Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) scope to include poor ARBs or small-holder farmers who are currently receiving minimal livelihood intervention in the agrarian reform communities or agrarian reform areas.
The PBD, meanwhile, is a support service delivery component of the DAR that aims to capacitate ARBs and provide them access to salient support services for the productivity of their lands and improvement of their lives.