THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-North is continuing the efforts to fight poverty and ensure stable market for its assisted farmer-beneficiaries in the province, as it forged a partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) recently.
DAR-Negros Occidental I Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Teresita Mabunay, who led the signing of the marketing agreement with the BJMP in Bacolod City on March 25, 2022, said they are practically hitting two birds with one stone in this project.
“We help our farmers and our inmates. We both give them a sense of dignity,” Mabunay said.
She added that “this project is sublime as the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) chosen to take part in the project will be earning which can augment their daily needs.”
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I Milagros Flores, who was also present at the activity, stressed that normally, after harvesting, the farmers are having a hard time looking for a market for their products.
“This time, we are bringing the market straight to our ARBs. We are supporting our marginal farmers,” she added.
For her part, Jail Superintendent Marie Rose Laguyo, of BJMP-Negros Occidental, thanked the DAR for the continued partnership in bringing fresh produce to the persons deprived of liberty in a “farm-to-table” concept.
A total of 10 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (Arbos) will benefit from the marketing endeavor.
These are Entorilan Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Association and A and G Esteban Farmworkers Association (FA) in Barangay San Miguel, Murcia; Hacienda Pula-Silay Agrarian Reform Cooperative (ARC); Nacayao Small FA and Hacienda San Jose 2 Farmworkers Association (FWA) in Barangay Kapitan Ramon, Silay City; Dalinson FA and Hacienda Basag 1 FA in E.B. Magalona; Hacienda Gamboa Lanatan Multi-Purpose Cooperative ARC and Satoca ARC in Sagay City; and Agpangi, Bagacay, Cabungahan ARC in Barangay Agpangi, Calatrava.
Edelido Calanza, chairman of Mulawin Lanatan MPC, expressed his gratitude as they became part of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (Epahp) program of the government.
The DAR and BJMP are part of the Epahp program where government institutions work together to support feeding programs, including provision of community meals for workers and laborers.
The implementation of the project is geared toward the goal of building resiliency for agrarian communities, DAR-Negros Occidental I said.
Specifically, it aims to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of agrarian communities as an adaptation measure towards resiliency, the agency said.
The DAR, through its Program Beneficiaries Development Division, also works on development and support services interventions by provision of training programs, as well as construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities.
Access for ARB households to basic social services is also included in this sector to ensure holistic support for the farmer beneficiaries, it added.