DAR
Eastern Visayas holds virtual regional pre-midyear
assessment. |
DAR-EV prepares
distribution of production inputs and livelihood support to ARBs
By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
July 10, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY –
After distributing relief packs of supplemental food, vitamins and
hygiene kits, the different provincial offices of the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas are now preparing for the
distribution of starter kits for crop production to agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs) later this month.
DAR provincial officials
in Region-8 disclosed during last week’s virtual pre-midyear
assessment that procurement of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and
farm tools, which will comprise the crop production inputs starter
kit, is now being undertaken to catch-up the distribution scheduled
on the last week of July.
Likewise, the provincial
officials further disclosed that procurement of hogs and poultry for
the livelihood support for rural women affected by the current
crisis is also underway, and be distributed simultaneously with the
crop production inputs starter kits.
These activities are
implemented under the PaSSOver: ARBold Mover for Deliverance of our
Farmers from COVID-19 Pandemic project, which is DAR’s response to
Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as the Bayanihan to Heal as
One Act.
DAR-8 OIC-Regional
Director Ismael Aya-ay, explained that the ARBold Move project is
divided into four components: 1. Support to ARB Organizations (ARBOs)
as Frontliners in the Food Supply Chain; 2. Farm Productivity
Assistance to ARBs; 3. Livelihood Support for Women in Crisis
Situation; and 4. Distribution of Relief Packs of Supplemental Food
and Hygiene Kits.
For the first component,
Aya-ay further explained that 65 ARBOs throughout the region were
assisted in the marketing of their products and provided with
quarantine accreditation passes to have access at checkpoints for
the continuous delivery of food supply during the lockdown.
These ARBOs were able to
generate a combined sale of more than P23M during this period, Aya-ay
added.
Under the fourth
component, Aya-ay shared that 9,532 ARBs throughout the region
received relief packs of supplemental food, vitamins and hygiene
kits in May as immediate assistance to ease the burden caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic.
For the second component,
according to Aya-ay, 4,087 ARBs will receive crop production inputs
starter kits this month to help them meet the nutritional
requirements of their household and generate income from surplus
production.
Meanwhile, 15 female-ARB
members of ARBOs in every province will receive also this month a
livelihood package, based on their preferences and capabilities,
under the third component.
Aya-ay clarified that in
component-3, priority will be given to women with special
circumstances such as single parents, widows, senior citizens, head
of households, group of indigenous peoples, and persons with
disabilities who undertake farming activities but lost their source
of income due to community quarantine.