DAR turns over farm equipment to CamSur agrarian reform recipients

By Ana-liza Macatangay

Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones turned over various Common Service Facilities (CSFs) to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in Camarines Sur during in simple ceremony held Thursday, Aug. 19, at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City.

I take pride that our farmers are the real heroes, especially in this time of pandemic. You see, if we don’t have farmers, I am certain that many of the Filipino people will starve, Castriciones said during the turn-over program.

Castriciones stressed that the farmers indeed played an important role in securing food production especially when the Covid-19 pandemic posed a big challenge to the agriculture sector and to the economy of the country as a whole.

“The President himself believes that the farmers are the real hope of our country. But the problem is, our economy would consider agriculture as its weakest link, dahil mahina ang agrikultura dito sa ating bansa,” Castriciones said.

Officers and members of various ARBOS in Camarines Sur were happy to receive farm facilities that would contribute a lot in maximizing their agricultural production.

Pag-asa Farmers and Farm Workers Association from Tinambac town received one unit of 4x2 truck, while Magsaysay Planters Association, also from Tinambac, received one unit of hand tractor, one unit of tilling machine and one unit of rice thresher. Dominanao Silverio Estate Irrigators Association from Cagmanaba, Ocampo received one unit of 4WD tractor with rotavator.

AGRARIAN ASSISTANCE DAR Sec. John R. Castriciones (right) leads the ribbon-cutting of the Product Exhibit during the blessing and turn-over of Common Shared Facilities held at Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City, Aug. 19, 2021. With him are from left; DAR Regional Director O. Rodrigo Realubit and PARPO II Maria Gracia R. Sales. (JRM/PIAV/Camarines Sur)

The Sta. Cruz Farmers and Farmworkers Association from Ocampo town was given one unit of corn sheller while one unit of tilling machine was also turned over to the Balaton Farmers and Fisherfolks Organization from Balaton, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur.

Pag-asa Farmers and Farmworkers Association President Ruth T. Bermillo expressed her appreciation to DAR for giving them the opportunity to be one of the program’s beneficiaries.

“I would like to get the opportunity to deeply express my gratitude to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). On behalf of our ARBO, Pag-asa Farmers and Farmworkers Association, thank you for making us one of the beneficiaries sa napakaraming proyekto. This is a big blessing to us and a great opportunity and privilege to our hardworking farmers,” Bermillo said.

Prior to the turn-over ceremony, Castriciones also visited the town of Bula for land title distribution. He distributed Certificate s of Landownership Award (CLOA) to 137 farmer beneficiaries from Bula, Baao, & Balatan, Camarines Sur covering 161.94 hectares.

He also turned over a total of 37 units of farm machinery and equipment worth P10.7 million to the ARBOs of Albay, Masbate, Catanduanes, and Camarines Sur.

Some 2,470 farmers are expected to benefit from the DAR assistance.

DAR Bicol Regional Director Rodrigo O. Realubit said that the farm machineries are expected to empower the agriculture sector and enable the farmers to make their land more productive and improve their quality of life. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)