Naga City—Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte of the second district of Camarines Sur joined DAR Secretary John Castriciones in a simple ceremony attended by farmers in Libmanan, a town west of Naga City on Thursday to distribute farm machineries and various inputs to agrarian reform beneficiaries.
“During the event, DAR released some of the 384 land titles or Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) with a total land area of 394-hectares to 260 agrarian reform beneficiaries,” says an agrarian reform program officer assigned in Camarines Sur.
Meanwhile, DAR Bicol Region Director Arnel S. Dizon moved to Legazpi City on Friday to continue distributing food packs and farm inputs to 20,783 farmer-beneficiaries listed in the agency’s database in this region.
“This is a challenging time for our farmer-beneficiaries. That is why we realigned our 2019 continuing fund and savings for this emergency relief assistance,” Dizon said in a statement.
A total of PHP 3.19 million were realigned to procure the food packs, Dizon added.
“We have asked the help of the honorable Deputy Speaker to support us in terms of funding as DAR is among the agencies with lowest allocation. We have 5,290 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations or ARBOs who are ready to play a vital role in boost agricultural production and increase income through value chain development,” DAR Undersecretary Virginia Orogo said in her letter asking Villafuerte’s.
In his message before the group of farmers receiving their CLOA in Libmanan town, Villafuerte hinted his observation on the DAR’s small budget.
“Land is essential in the growth of the agriculture sector, and we need DAR to do it for us,” he added.
Secretary John Castriciones also revealed a new program on housing. “DAR has partnered with the National Housing Authority to provide housing to farmers. Just hold on to your lands, please do not sell it because DAR is working for more support services,” he said.
Dizon said there are 136 hectares of government lands covered by the President’s Executive Order No. 75, a program to give away idle government lands.
Hearing about the warm reception of farmers to the DAR housing program, Villafuerte said he knows of 25 hectares that could be utilized for a housing program.
