The local government of Bicol recently allocated P9.8-million of funds to empower the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) stakeholders, which include agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), ARB organizations (ARBOs), rural women and landowners.

The allocation of funds is part of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the Strategic Alliance Building and Strengthening Partnership Development between the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the province of Bicol. The signing of the MoA was held in provincial gymnasium of Sorsogon.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II   Leonito M. Gaveria said the program involved the signing of the MoA, presentation and symbolic unveiling of the 11 partnership development projects (PDPs) in the municipalities and five regular programs for ARBs, rural women, and landowners wherein leaders of ARB organizations, and head officials place their signatures on the posters as manifestation of their sincere commitment.

The projects included in the MoA  are (1) Agrarian Production Credit Program – Capacity Development; (2) Village Level Farms/Crops-focused Enterprise Development; (3) Social Entrepreneurship; (4) Farm Business School; (5) Community-Manage Potable Water and Sanitation Hygiene; (6) Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty; (7) Program Beneficiaries’ Development Lawyering; (8) Cooperative Strengthening; (9) Climate Change Proofing; (10) Climate Resilience Farm Productivity Project in climate proofed areas; and (11) Sustainable livelihood support for disaster affected areas.

“We thank the strong support and commitment shown by the governor, mayors, CIAs, and ARBOs who attended this special event.  The partnership signifies their willingness to mobilize resources to boost the lives of our farmer-beneficiaries,” Gaveria said.

Sorsogon Mayor Sally A. Lee said the local government units are always the front liners of every project. If the policy was not downloaded to the LGUs, it will not be implemented. “What we are doing today is good. There is alliance, not in isolation,” she said.

On the other hand, Governor Robert A. Lee-Rodrigueza said that through partnership and the commitment of every one involve in the project, the success of the farmers is already on its way.(Alura A. Jaso/DAR RV)