CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — As of May 2024, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-10 had extended crucial support services to 180,696 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in northern Mindanao.
This initiative is part of DAR’s commitment to improving the lives of ARBs beyond simply awarding them land titles.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum on Tuesday, June 25, DAR-10 Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang said these services are part of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program (ARBDSP), aimed at enhancing productivity and fostering active community participation among ARBs.
She explained that these services include capacity-building initiatives to equip ARBs with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the legalities involved in land ownership and agricultural practices.
Macadindang said the program also offers enterprise development and economic support services. The program provides ARBs with training and assistance to establish and manage their own businesses, enabling them to become competitive players in the market.
Moreover, DAR-10 invests in infrastructure projects that directly benefit agrarian reform communities (ARCs). These include farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, and potable water systems, all aimed at improving the overall quality of life for ARBs and their families.
“Daghan pud kaayo tay gipanghatag nga farm machinery equipment all over northern Mindanao,” Macadindang said.
(We have also provided significant farm machinery and equipment throughout northern Mindanao.)
These resources, she added, are funded through the agrarian reform fund and regular allocations from the DAR Central Office.
Currently, there are 21 ongoing infrastructure projects in the region, of which 17 are in Bukidnon with a combined cost of P246 million and four are in Camiguin, amounting to P53 million.
“Ang DAR dili lang gapanghatag og yuta, unsaon man ang yuta kung walay support services? What shall we do with a piece of CLOA kung wala ang mga support services? So naay nakaakibat nga support services aside from the CLOA distribution and the delivery of agrarian justice,” the regional director said.
(DAR does not just distribute land. What to do with land without support services? What shall we do with a piece of CLOA without support services? Therefore, we have essential support services that go beyond CLOA distribution and the delivery of agrarian justice.)
While acknowledging challenges due to limited funding, DAR-10 has implemented strategies to ensure continued support for ARBs.
Seny Fe Fabe, DAR-10 Assistant Regional Director for Support to Operations, stated that they collaborate with other government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture.
She said this collaboration addresses funding constraints and allows them to pool resources and expertise for a more comprehensive intervention.
DAR-10 has also established partnerships with international donors such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
According to Macadindang, 95 ARCs in the region have received 1,074 foreign-assisted projects worth over P4 billion.
Northern Mindanao currently has 176 ARCs and 525 operational agrarian reform beneficiary organizations spread across 89 municipalities, or 676 barangays. (APB/PIA-10)
