• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Nineteen agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in Negros Occidental received P69.17 million worth of services from the national government, according to a statement issued yesterday by Malacañang.
“You can count on me and the entire government to support you in all your endeavors. Join me in realizing a New Philippines – a country where no one goes hungry and everyone works for the good of all,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who joined by Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, during the turnover rites held recently in Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Perla Miraflor, an ARB and chairperson of Victor U. Lopez Agrarian Reform Cooperative (VULARCO), in Negros Occidental 2 (South), expressed her gratitude for the support services provided, as these, she said, will boost the income of ARBs and ARBOs itself.
“The challenge now is in our hands to make the land productive so that we could increase our income,” Miraflor said.
Atty. Sheila Enciso, DAR Western Visayas Regional Director, said a total of 750 farmers in Negros Occidental would benefit from the farm-to-market roads (FMRs), Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP project), organic fertilizer, and farm machineries and equipment (FMEs) distributed by the President.
Enciso said the FMRs involve the concreting of Concepcion Bridge with an 18-linear-meter length to benefit ARB members of Cabatangan-Concepcion ARC (CACON), while the TPKP includes a 1.72-kilometer road from Purok 2 leading to Purok 10, 9, and ANHS, Barangay Alangilan, in Bacolod City and a. 1.72-kilometer road from Purok 16 leading to Purok 15, Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City.
FMEs provided to Negros Occidental 1 (North) include two 90 HP 4WD farm tractors, one hand tractor, three mechanical threshers, and 3 power/floating tiller worth P6 million for the 5 ARBOs: Hda Gamboa Brgy. Mabini ARB Association, Tulo-Ato Small Farmers Consumer Cooperative, Initihan River Irrigators Association, Amayco Small Farmers Association, and Agpangi Bagacay Cabungahan Agrarian Reform Cooperative, which will benefit 221 ARBs.
In Negros Occidental 2, 617 units of organic fertilizer worth P234,460 were provided to 8 ARBOs, namely, the Integrated Sugar and Rice Farmers and Workers Association (ISARFAWA), Brgy. Bi-ao Farmers Association (BABIFA), Tampalon Rainfed Upland Farmers Association, Tampalon Small Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative (TASFARM-ARC), Mahayag Farmers Association, Manolita Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Purok Katubuhan ARB Association, and Bulod Da-at Farmers Association (BUDAFA).
FMEs worth P3,760,000 were also provided to Negros Occidental 2, which include one 6-wheeler hauling truck, 5 rice/grass cutters, 2 power tillers, 3 threshers, and 1 hand tractor for 5 ARBOs, namely, Victor U. Lopez Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Kauswagan Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Integrated Sugar and Rice Farmers and Workers Association (ISARFAWA), Brgy. Pandan Farmers and Farm Workers Association Katuwang sa Pagbabago and General Malvar Agrarian Reform Cooperative.*
