Some
44 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from 11 farming
villages in Jiabong, Samar received garden tools,
fertilizers and vegetable seeds from the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the second component of its
ARBold Move project as the nation experiences health crisis. |
Unassisted farmer
happy to receive aid from DAR
By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
August 10, 2020
JIABONG, Samar –
After failing to receive assistance distributed by other
organizations in their barangay, Rosalina Gabahin was happy to know
she was among the 44 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from 11
farming villages in this town who were included in the list of
recipients of farm production inputs given away by the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR).
“Nagpapasalamat gud kami
nga nahi-api kami hini nga bulig han DAR, kay didto han pinanhatag
ha iskwelahan, waray man kami mahi-api.” (“We are very thankful that
we were included by the DAR in their distribution of assistance,
because we were not included in the distribution that was held in
the school.”)
Gabahin, 45 years old and
a mother of four, rushed out of their house when she learned of the
arrival of DAR personnel in Barangay Macabetas.
Municipal Agrarian Reform
Program Officer (MARPO) Thelma Alfaro, assisted by Naome Rojas,
Janeth Lapara, Kim Dasig and Nikko Banjo Llano, went from one
barangay to another on Wednesday and Thursday last week to
distribute farm tools, fertilizers and seeds under the farm
production assistance component of the ARBold Move project, which is
DAR’s immediate response to Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Each ARB-recipient
received a shovel, a hoe, 10 kilos of complete fertilizer, 10 kilos
of vermicast, urea, organic pesticide and two varieties of vegetable
seeds.
Alfaro explained to the
recipients that DAR is giving these items to help them generate
additional income by planting vegetables during this time of crisis
caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Thus, she encouraged them
to plant the seeds to earn more. According to her, not all were
given the same opportunity.
Meanwhile, Dasig taught
the recipients how to apply the organic pesticide for best results.
For Yolanda Lagbo, 55, a
widow, and also from Barangay Macabetas, the said assistance would
certainly help her earn additional income, especially that she is
now a single parent with four children to support.
In Barangay Parina,
Clemente Gallegar, 66, shared how greatly they were affected during
the lockdown. He reminisced that they could not sell their copra.
Now, price of copra is very low, he added.
Moreover, the three
recipients in Barangay Hinaga, an upland village about 17 kilometers
away from the town proper, were surprised to receive the said
assistance. Monico Villar, 79, said they have no idea about this
distribution, while Tirso Cabanjen, 49, thanked DAR for the seeds.
According to him, these would be additional source of food for his
family.