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DAR-Surigao Sur beneficiaries get over P25-M aid in 2019

By Alexander Lopez

March 3, 2020, 8:30 pm

<p><strong>SUPPORT TO FARMERS.</strong> The Binati Lateral H Irrigators Association in Tago, Surigao del Sur, is one of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (ARBO) that received livelihood support from the Convergence Livelihood Assistance for ARBs Project (CLAAP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The association was provided with agricultural and veterinary supply and other farm inputs worth PHP435,000 for their retailing project in the area. <em>(Photo courtesy of DARSDS Information Office)</em></p>

SUPPORT TO FARMERS. The Binati Lateral H Irrigators Association in Tago, Surigao del Sur, is one of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (ARBO) that received livelihood support from the Convergence Livelihood Assistance for ARBs Project (CLAAP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The association was provided with agricultural and veterinary supply and other farm inputs worth PHP435,000 for their retailing project in the area. (Photo courtesy of DARSDS Information Office)

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform in the province of Surigao del Sur (DAR-SDS) facilitated the release of PHP25.175 million worth of livelihood assistance to 33 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) from 25 Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in 12 municipalities of the province.

The livelihood assistance was released through the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARBs Project (CLAAP), a program being implemented by DAR in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Esteban Dumagan, the OIC-chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) for Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Development Support Program (ARBDSP), told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday (March 3) that a total of 1,007 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) belonging to 33 ARBOs directly benefited from the project.

Dumagan said that CLAAP is a collaborative effort of DAR and DSWD aligned with the poverty alleviation program of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Each of the ARBOs received PHP435,000 assistance last year in the form of livelihood packages with a total amount of PHP15,105 million.

Dumagan said another PHP10,070 was allotted for training and capability building activities for the ARBOs to manage properly their livelihood projects. He added that the series of capability building activities and training were conducted from October to December last year.

“We are confident that our ARBOs, most of which are cooperatives, are already capable and competent to sustain their livelihood projects,” Dumagan said.

Data provided by DARSDS indicated that three ARBOs ventured into egg production and were provided with 683 heads of layers each; and, one ARBO into goat production with dispersal to its members.

Each of the 14 ARBOs received 58 piglets with feeds and vitamins for piggery project, the data showed. The remaining ARBOs, especially the cooperatives were provided with agricultural and veterinary supplies, fertilizers, seeds, and sacks of rice for their retailing businesses.

In a statement on Tuesday, Leoncio Bautista, Jr., DARSDS OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARO II), said that CLAAP is an initiative of the government to help increase the income of ARBs in Surigao del Sur.

Bautista also expressed optimism the project will provide assistance to more ARBs and ARBOs in the province this year. (PNA)

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