ARBs bounce back

By JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
June 24, 2014

TACLOBAN CITY – Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the severely “Yolanda”-affected agrarian reform communities (ARCs) had bounced back.

Seven months after super typhoon “Yolanda” devastated many areas in Region-8, some of the ARBs have gradually recovered from loses and are now back to business.

This is what the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) highlighted during its kick-off activities on Monday when it opened a mini-trade fair at the lobby of the regional office that lasted for two days only showcasing ARC products as the said agency commemorates the 26th year of implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Farmers’ harvests such as vegetables, sweet corn and peanuts from Tacloban ARC and from other ARCs throughout the region were sold in the two-day trade fair. Their products, according to DAR Regional Director Sheila Enciso, exhibited how the ARBs had bounced back from devastation, considering that many areas here were affected by “Yolanda”.

Assistant Regional Director for Program Beneficiaries Development Ismael Aya-ay disclosed that the mini-trade fair reached a total gross sales of more than P25,000 for the said period including those from processed foods and handicrafts.

Civil Service Commission Regional Director Victoria Esber was invited too on June 16 and discussed to the DAR employees the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” to help the latter improve their working attitudes and become more productive.

Other activities lined up in relation to this month-long occasion are project turnover and distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).

On June 24, two farm-to-market roads implemented under the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Projects (ARCP-2) will be turned over in Daram, Samar, while 148 CLOAs will be handed to its recipient farmers in Catbalogan City on the same day.

Early this month, a 3.8-kilometer concreted farm-to-market road was turned over in Kananga, Leyte, while on June 25 another ARCP-2 project will be turned over in Inopacan, Leyte.

Enciso said that the celebration culminates on June 27 in Northern Samar but our agency continues to deliver its mandate in improving the quality of life of the farmers particularly the ARBs.