DAR-Cagayan hosts ARBO Summit 2017

The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office of Cagayan-Batanes (DARPO Cagayan-Batanes) hosted an Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (ARBO) Summit on November 13 to 18, 2017 in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan attended by more than 400 coop/organization leaders and officers.

The ARBO Summit is a way of promoting camaraderie among the different agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and other farmer-leaders; provide opportunities for learning from specific good practices of other successful ARBOs by meeting and talking about their experiences; share their best innovative practices; and also promote unity and cooperation among the different cooperatives and other organizations in the province.

Presently, there are at least two Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) Clusters in the province and two more are being organized. An ARC Cluster is composed to two or more ARCs organized into groups primarily  to reduce poverty, and have sustained improvements in incomes and quality of life through business engagements proportionate to economies of scale, i.e., a proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production. Hence, unity among the members and officers in the agrarian reform communities is essential value to sustain the programs that will have an impact against poverty in the countryside.

The participants of the ARBO Summit also received updates on the DAR’s programs and thrusts for 2018 particularly on land tenure, farm mechanization, solar irrigation pump projects, sugarcane block farms, livelihood programs, climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, enterprise development, credit and microfinance programs, institutional development programs, etc., all of which are relevant to the management and operation of their coop enterprises towards poverty alleviation in the countryside.

One of the major topics discussed were on the Filipino Values affecting the relationships particularly of rural families and coop members/officers. On a business context, cited example of Filipino values among local entrepreneurs are the traditional relationships which usually develop into regular customer-supplier relationships. Suki relationships build on loyalty (repeat transactions over time) which translates to favors like reduced prices, better quality and even occasional credit privileges. Examples of thse are common in the small neighborhood sari-sari stores (convenience stores). Suki relationships help build and create platforms for personal relationships that  bloom into friendships between individuals. This is also clearly the norm among coop members patronizing the services of their cooperatives.  Of some interests are Filipino entreprenuers who have turned their businesses into multi-billion enterprises such as Henry Sy and Lucio Tan 

Generally, the distinct value system of Filipinos is ingrained mainly in the personal alliance systems such as those in kinship, obligation, friendship, beliefs in God and business relationships. Other dominant values among the members of the ARBOs are: pakikipagkapwa-tao, family oriented, flexibility and adaptability, faith and religiosity, resiliency, hard work and industry. Felipe Landa Jocano, a famous Filipino sociologist said “there are no negative Filipino values, only the wrong use of values”. Values change from one family to another depending on how strong the family promotes them from one generation to another.

The participants were also oriented on the various innovative processes on grassroots implementation of the plans and programs of the government, including how to react and address graft and corruption. An orientation on Participatory Government was also conducted wherein Resource Speakers from the Kilusang Pagbabago and from the Office of Participatory Governance were invited to elaborate further about the government’s efforts on empowerment of the agricultural workers sector. The ARBO Summit also involved orientation on the new credit and microfinance facilities in addition to workshops on entrepreneurship and team building exercises that promote solidarity among the various ARBOs.  

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. -Alice Walker

Cagayan ARC Clusters identified as World Bank-IPAC project sites

There are two Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) Clusters in Cagayan province which were identified as project sites for the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved World Bank- Inclusive Partnership for AgriculturalCompetitiveness (IPAC) project. The project is aimed at helping farmers improve their standard of living, reduce poverty incidence, and develop the agri-business industry in the province in general.

The Department of Agrarian Reform-World Bank IPAC is a P10-billion project that will be funded by World Bank with counterparts from the national and local government which will cover 13 qualified regions such as Region 02 in the Cagayan Valley.

Cagayan province in Region 02 has been identified as one of the project sites wherein two Agrarian Reform Community Clusters, namely the Cagayan Grains Central ARC Cluster and the Cagayan South ARC Cluster are now preparing for the implementation of the project.

An ARC cluster is composed of two or more agrarian reform communities (ARCs) who have banded together to share resources, to work together to attain economies of scale and to expand their business operations that will include other municipalities.

The ARC Cluster shall be promoted as the convergence point of all government program implemented by government agencies such that each program and project is complimentary and supportive to each other. The strategy shall adopt a more comprehensive and integrated approach to rural development through collaborative efforts by all stake holders and partners. The bottom line objective is to improve productivity and income of the farmers by focusing agribusiness development of agro-industrial crops and to create economies of scale and active, harmonious and peaceful communities.

Another aim of this strategy is to widen the impact area that the ARC Program has started. It is intended to concretely operationalize partnership and convergence of development interventions in the rural areas not only in ARCs but to include the Non-ARC communities. 

The Cagayan Grains Central ARC Cluster is composed of 8 ARCs in 3 municipalities, includes of the following ARCs: Sunrise ARC (Gattaran), TANASICATCU ARC (Gattaran), LASVINAG ARC (Gattaran), Eastern Alcala ARC (Alcala), Greenfields ARC (Alcala), Evergreen ARC (Baggao), NALASBANGCA ARC (Baggao) and Insan-As-Viba ARC (Baggao). The Cagayan Grains Central ARC Cluster shall develop an integrated grains and livestock production, processing and marketing enterprises.

The Cagayan South ARC Cluster, on the other hand, is composed of nine (9) ARCs located in five (5) municipalities: NASUERTECA ARC (Amulung), Malaueg ARC (Rizal), MADOVILLA ARC (Piat), CACABLAY ARC (Tuao), SALAMIN ARC (Tuao), SABUNG ARC (Tuao), Western Solana ARC (Solana), FURABAN ARC (Solana) and ROBA ARC (Enrile). The Cagayan South ARC Cluster shall develop an integrated livestock and aquaculture production, processing and marketing enterprises.

The main objective of IPAC is to enhance access to markets and competitiveness of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), smallholder and landless farmers in the targeted agrarian reform community (ARC) clusters.

The project will also capacitate organized farmers who are members of farmers’ organizations such agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs),  to engage market-oriented production and agri-business. Also, to increase access to  appropriate and sustainable production, post-harvest, processing technology and agri-extension services.

The IPAC project will enhance the linkage of farmers and ARBOs/farmers organizations to markets and establish business partnership between them and private sector traders.

Establishing farm-to-market roads is just one of the government's projects which are in line with IPAC's goals.

The project is awarded to organizations already capable of managing their respective cooperatives. It will also enable them to continue their existing farm programs through support services and access to loans.

DAR‘s target implementation of the project is in the middle of 2017, with other line agencies like Department of Agriculture, and Land Bank of the Philippines as the credit program’s depository agency.

DAR Central Office said that P4,358,483 loaned from the WB will make up 42.93 percent of the P10,154,392 total budget for the IPAC Project. The national government will put in P4,543,099 or 44.74 percent of the total amount, local government units will allot P20,449 or 0.20 percent, and farmers' organizations will contribute 1,232,000 or 12.13 percent.

Land distribution is not the sole task of DAR. It also provides support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries empower them to become economically productive and successful agri-entrepreneurs. 

Agrarian Reform: Poverty incidence decreased through the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) Strategy

A Study was conducted and it showed among others that the the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) approach to rural development is an effective strategy to fight poverty in the countryside. The study is part of the second round of CARP impact assessment studies commissioned by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). It aimed to assess the impact and gains of the program and to recommend policies, mechanisms or changes to enhance program implementation, particularly for the remaining balances in land acquisition and distribution and in expanding the reach and impact of the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) strategy. 

The study mainly used official government databases of census and surveys of the National Statistics Office (NSO), the ARC database of the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD) of DAR, and other administrative data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) and National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB). These databases were merged with the data on the 2006 Masterlist of the Agrarian Reform Communities, matched and analyzed. 

A rapid appraisal of five provinces was also done to examine the impact of government interventions on land markets and economic activities related to land (i.e., credit, capital accumulation, and land productivity). Results of the study show that it is the combination of possessing the land, being located in an ARC, and being in an ARC that increases a farmer household’s income and expenditure per capita and make them less likely to be poor. 

Within an ARC, there is no significant difference between ARBs and non-ARBs, thus demonstrating that returns to land ownership is significantly improved with the provision of support services. 

Furthermore, ARBs do better than non-ARBs in ARCs but both ARBs and non-ARBs in non-ARCs would have the same probability of being non-poor and they do worse than the respondents in ARCs. The benefit-cost analysis of the ARC strategy yielded a positive net present value showing that the benefits reaped from the ARC support services outweigh the cost of financing such services.  

Through the ARC strategy, poverty incidence decreased from 39.8% to 24.2% over the period 1990 and 2000. This reduction is slightly higher than that experienced by those in the non-ARC barangays, i.e., from 39.0% to 24.8% for the same period.

SOURCE: Balisacan, Arsenio, M. et al.  Study on the Impact of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on Poverty Reduction and Prospects for Long-Term Growth.  Asia-Pacific Policy Center, Diliman, Quezon City. October 2007.  PUBLISHED BY: Economic and Socio-Cultural Research Division

 Policy and Strategic Research Service, DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM 

Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) draw Convergence Services

The Department of Agrarian Reform launched the Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC) in 1993 for its key program for national development. In the past, DAR has concentrated mainly on the distribution of land to the landless farmers, while this is the core of any agrarian reform program, experience has shown that this is not sufficient to raise the quality of life of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). And that a strategic development was created which we call the ARCs wherein DAR has focused and realigned its priorities towards the development of viable agrarian reform communities. It is the ARCs where DAR has been intensifying its interventions to increase farm production, improve household income and promote sustainable development. With ARCs, the Department, in partnership with other CARP implementing agencies, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) have a structure for concentrating its resources and development efforts. Development interventions focus on Land Tenure Improvement (LTI) and Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) to ensure economic, political, environmental and socio-cultural viability of the ARCs.

In 1995, the President of the Philippines issued Administrative Order No. 194 for the adoption of the Social Reform Agenda (SRA) convergence policy and its operationalization, which is considered a milestone in the field of rural development. The Administrative Order identifies Agrarian Reform Communities, among others, as convergence areas where the various agencies and entities shall focus their resources, services and interventions. The key components of ARC development are: (1) land Tenure Improvement (LTI); Social Infrastructure and Local Capability Building (SILCAB); (3) Sustainable Area-based Rural Enterprise Development (SARED); and (4) Basic Social Services Development (BSSD) including Gender and Development.

The ARC concept: An ARC is a barangay at the minimum or a cluster of contiguous barangays where there is a critical mass of farmers and farm workers awaiting the full implementation of agrarian reform. The farmers and the farm workers will anchor the integrated development of the area.

VISION: A nation where there is equitable land ownership with empowered agrarian reform beneficiaries who are effectively managing their economic and social development for a better quality of life.

MISSION: To implement CARP through the distribution of lands and provision of support services in order to attain social equity and promote sustainable development.

The National Scene: Access to land is essential to ensure that rural growth will substantially benefit the rural poor. A highly inequitable distribution of productive assets, such as land, does not only limit the participation of the poor in production growth but also stifles the potential of the country to achieve long-term growth. For more than six decades, land reform has been (and is still) the constant battle cry in the Philippines. Agriculture contributed almost P485 billion worth of the nation’s domestic goods and services in 1997. Three-fifths (3/5) or about 49 million of the population live in the countryside and nearly half (19 million) of the labor force work in the agricultural sector.

At present, there are 6 out of very 10 Filipinos who continue to live below the poverty line due to inequality in income distribution, among others. More than half of the nation’s wealth is controlled by the richest 20% while the bottom half of the population gets only one-fifth. In 1997, 44% of the rural families are living below the poverty line especially the rice, sugarcane, coconut and corn farmers.

The Tasks: To empower the farmer-beneficiaries through the following processes: (1) landownership and control of productive resources through distribution of remaining 1.1 million hectares (nationwide) of land to farming families within five years and maintain the efficiency standard for resolving agrarian cases; (2) promoting and strengthening the social institutions at the community level and at different levels of governance by enhancing the capability of the program partners, intensifying agrarian reform beneficiaries development, consolidating existing ARCs and expanding the rural development interventions in non-ARC areas; and (3) increasing access to productive resources by working closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), other line agencies and local government units (LGUs) towards a convergence of services to meet the needs of ARCs, better management and increase foreign assisted projects, establishment of a joint-venture business arrangement between farmers and agribusiness firms, meaningful partnership with autonomous societal actors in land reform and rural development undertakings.

Strategies: In the implementation of the above-mentioned tasks, the following strategies shall be utilized: (a) completion of land distribution; (b) convergence mwith DA, DENR, strategic line agencies and LGUs focusing on specific crops, commodities and integrated farming systems; (c) continuation of the ARC development by expanding to embrace all ARBs, especially those not included in the existing ARCs and convergence zones; (d) social marketing campaign; (e) organization development of the DAR bureaucracy.

The agrarian reform agenda is grounded on three equally important principles with respect to the rural sector: economic development, social justice, and political democratization. Consistent with these three distinct but related principles and congruent with DAR’s vision and mission, the implementation of the ARC Development Plan has to be enhanced and expanded to contribute to the achievement of food security, poverty reduction, and countryside development. /cds

Three Cagayan Valley towns into Sugarcane Block Farming

Planning workshop of DAR and ARB
coops for block sugar faming

The Sugarcane Block Farming project is currently being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform provincial office of Cagayan wherein small farms owned by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in sugar-producing areas are being consolidated to increase the ARBs’ profitability through ‘block’ farming. Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO II) Virgilio M. Acasili said the implementation of the project is pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between and among the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Under the MOA, the DAR will shoulder the cost of farm tractors and business development services. The DA will cover the development of irrigation facilities and the improvement of farm-to-mill roads while the SRA will shoulder the cost of agri-technology and overall management of the block farms.

At least two (2) municipalities in Cagayan province are preparing to engage in sugarcane block farming to increase profitability and  also a way of preparing our ARB-sugar farmers against the effects of competition resulting from the implementation of the free trade agreement within the ASEAN region by 2015,  when the tariffs on agricultural goods can be as low as five percent to even zero.

The demand for sugar is continuously rising due to the increasing requirements for production of bioethanol (from sugar) and in power cogeneration which uses sugarcane waste called bagasse. Presently, energy companies are allowed to import bioethanol to supply their needs as local production cannot meet the current demand. Bioethanol made from sugarcane consumes the least amount of energy and emits the least amount of greenhouse gas, which means it is one of the most earth-friendly power sources.

The local sugar industry’s biggest competition is the entry of cheaper sugar from Thailand and is considered as a real threat that can affect local production and pull down domestic prices to the prejudice of local farmers. Sugar from the Philippines is still being exported with the United States as its major market. According to the SRA, sugar exports will soon include India, Korea, Indonesia and the Middle East.

Sugarcane block farming will happen in the municipalities of Solana and Tuao, all in the south-western part of Cagayan province where large tracks of lands are planted to sugarcane that provide the raw materials for the Cagayan RobinaSugar Milling Company (CARSUMCO) in Sto. Domingo, Piat, Cagayan. Also included in the project is Cabagan town in Isabela province. 

Under the block farming system, small farms of agrarian reform beneficiaries with areas of less than 10 hectares will be consolidated and integrated into 30-50 hectares through various schemes such as contracting, joint venture, partnership and sharing.

The block farms will be managed as one farm so that activities in the small individual farms are synchronized to the plans of the whole block, Hence, resources including farm workers, equipment and financing, could be utilized more efficiently. Although the farms are operated as a block, the ARB remains as the absolute owner of their farm, they will not lose ownership of their land titles. The block farms will be managed by their farmers’ organizations or cooperatives who will be assisted by a farm manager hired and supervised by the SRA.

Block farming is the consolidation of small farms to help increase productivity and to widen the scale of sugar production. ARBs are encouraged to organize themselves into cooperatives to make their farm operations more cost-efficient which will result to lesser cost of production resulting to more profitable per unit area. It is a support services program intended for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries.

The government is targeting to have at least 100 sugarcane block farm sites by 2015. The average sugar cane yield per hectare is currently at 60 tons but this can be increased to 70-80 tons per hectare through farm mechanization and improved production process.

Under the block farming system, DAR provides all that the farmers will need such as farm inputs, new farm techniques and common service facilities that consists of a mechanized tractors and a hauling trucks, etc.  These inputs and farm equipment will  be provided as grants to the farmers’ cooperatives being the conduit between DAR, etc and the farmer-beneficiaries who are parties to the project.

           According to studies conducted by SRA, the program can help increase their sugar cane production from 99 to 147 bags of sugar per hectare, which could be translated to a possible increase in income of about P39, 000 for the farmer-beneficiaries. /cds 

DARPO Legal Clinic in Ugnayan Sa Barangay

BRGY. VILLAREY, Piat, Cagayan (North)-The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office of Cagayan-Batanes through its Legal Assistance Division conducted a legal assistance clinic on March 21, 2014 at barangay Villarey, Piat, Cagayan upon the invitation of 1Lt Dennis D. Villanueva of the Philippine Army based in Masin, Alcala, Cagayan.

The purpose of the forum is to properly address some issues and concerns pertaining to the agrarian reform program, land tenure status of agrarian reform beneficiaries, agricultural leasehold relationships, agricultural insurance benefits, and other concerns from the farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries in the area.

The activity is a combined effort of the members of the Philippine Army, the local government unit of Piat, Cagayan (LGU-Piat), the barangay officials of at least three adjoining barangays, the farmers’ sector and other stakeholders.

            The forum started with a lecture-symposium on selected topics about the laws on agrarian reform, rights, duties and benefits of agrarian reform beneficiaries (also referred to as land transfer beneficiaries) and regular tenants/farm workers (non-land transfer beneficiaries), the latter being considered as prospective agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The participants were also encouraged to present their individual concerns in the ensuing one-on-one legal clinic conducted by the DAR legal officers and attorneys who were present for that purpose. Around fifty farmer-beneficiaries were counseled with various agrarian reform related problems, such as, determination of the prescribed lease rentals on tenanted agricultural lands, cases involving succession/land transfer transactions where the original agrarian reform beneficiary is already deceased, also, land survey issues over landholdings covered by Operation Land Transfer and CARP.

Some agrarian reform beneficiaries’ concern as to their actual tenural status were also confirmed during the dialogue and strengthened their rights of ownership over the landholdings awarded to them.  Other matters requiring more detailed consideration were scheduled for a conference at either the DAR Municipal Office or at the DAR Provincial Office, specifically, matters relating to survey activities.

The Legal Clinic has become a regular activity of the DARPO Cagayan-Batanes wherein the PARO (Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer), Virgilio M. Acasili has committed support and resources to the Legal Assistance Division headed by its Chief, Atty Fatima Yadao to extend legal services  even to the remote barangays in the province, with the main objective of bringing the services of the government closer to the people pursuant to the government’s thrust on inclusive growth. 
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DOST, DAR, DA, et. al., sign Convergence MOU

SMX Convention Center. On the occasion of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, the cabinet secretaries (and  undersecretaries) from the Departmentof Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Departmentof Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) met and signed today a Convergence Memorandum of Understanding on Community-Based Sustainable Livelihood and Development Enterprises in the Countryside.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Convergence would move together the agencies involved and unite their efforts and activities with DOST to provide a combination of multiple services, programs, projects, technologies, and provide access to other developmental interventions that will promote sustainable development and access to programs such as DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), among others. The DOST SET-UP is a more focused program of assistance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SET-UP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist SMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness.           This is of special interest to the DAR's agrarian reform communities (ARCs) project where agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) are transforming themselves into being farmer-entrepreneurs and agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) are now engaging into economies of scale through modernization under the DAR-ARCCESS program and the block sugar farming, among others. 

            This year’s NSTW theme is “Science, Technology and Innovation: The Road to a Smarter Philippines,” emphasizes the role of science and technology in improving the peoples’ future through DOST’s projects and services that will further socio-economic development through DOST’s technologies such as the Advance Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) which is the testing facility for the nation’s semiconductor industry; Automated GuidewayTransit (AGT) system (currently in use at UP-Diliman), an alternative transportation system; PROJECT NOAH as a tool to address climate change; DOST’s Certified Seed Production Program for the agricultural sector;  and other Internet Communication Technology (ICT) driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive.

The NSTW runs from July 23-27, 2013 (Tuesday until Saturday) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City and will showcase the latest innovations, interventions and inventions of Filipino scientists, engineers and various works by the entire scientific community. /christiandsales

DAR-Cagayan Tree Planting

The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan celebrated the 3^rd CARPER (R.A. No. 9700) Anniversary on August, 2012 with a tree planting activity at barangay Maddarulug, Solana, Cagayan wherein approximately 300 mahogany tree and other fruit tree seedlings were planted by the municipal agrarian reform officers (MAROs), division chiefs (CARPOs), and provincial agrarian reform officers (PAROs).   

For our children and our children's children...

The  tree planting activity is in line with the National Greening Program (NGP) pursuant to Executive Order No. 26, dated February 24, 2011 signed President Benigno S. Aquino, III which mandated the DA-DAR-DENR Convergence Initiative to develop a National Greening Program in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfareand Development (DSWD), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), private sector and other concerned agencies and institutions. The program aims to plant trees on 1.5 million hectares for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016. It is a multi-sectoral project, as such, the project harmonizes all the greening efforts of both public and private sectors, such as the Upland Development Program, LuntiangPilipinas, etc.   

No, that's not an ARB, that's PARO Gil Acasili...

       Under the program, any individual, group, school, organization, or company can be a part of the NGP as a volunteer tree planter, or donor/sponsor of seedlings, planting tools, and other materials such as organic fertilizers. In fact, government employees and students (Grades 5-6, high school, and college) are expected to plant at least 10 seedlings a year.

A little more and we're done for today....

Barangays and state universities and colleges (SUCs) are also encouraged to establish nurseries for the NGP. The DAR is also targeting Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) to participate by encouraging them to establish nurseries and to plant fuel wood in order to reduce the need to cut down other trees for fuel.

Fertilizer please...

The NGP aims to plant a variety of trees such as, agroforestry species for the production zones and indigenous/native/endemic species for protection zones and urban areas.  /cds