Bantay Farmers ARB Cooperative: Driving Food Security and Economic Growth under DAR’s PAHP

Solana, Cagayan — The Bantay Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) Cooperative in Solana, Cagayan, has emerged as a vital force in the fight against hunger and poverty through its active participation in the Department of Agrarian Reform’s PartnershipAgainst Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program.

In January 2024, the cooperative received a multicab utility vehicle valued at ₱299,500 from the Department of Agrarian Reform provincial Office of Cagayan (DARPO-Cagayan). This provision, under the PAHP and Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) program, aims to bolster the cooperative's logistical capabilities, facilitating the efficient transport of agricultural products and enhancing market access for its members.

The PAHP initiative, a collaborative effort among various government agencies including the DAR and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), seeks to address food insecurity and poverty by integrating community-based organizations like the Bantay Farmers ARB Cooperative into institutional food supply chains. Through this program, cooperatives are linked to government feeding programs and other institutional buyers, ensuring a stable market for their produce and contributing to the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations.

Since its inception, the PAHP program has significantly impacted agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) nationwide. As of April 2024, these organizations have collectively earned over ₱2.3 billion by supplying agricultural products to institutional markets. This success underscores the program's effectiveness in enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

In Solana, the local government's support for agricultural development is evident through initiatives like the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) Distribution Caravan and the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. These programs provide financial aid and direct market access to farmers, complementing the efforts of cooperatives like Bantay Farmers ARB Cooperative in strengthening the local agricultural economy.

The Bantay Farmers ARB Cooperative's active engagement in these programs exemplifies the potential of grassroots organizations to contribute meaningfully to national goals of food security and poverty alleviation. Through continued collaboration with government agencies and sustained community involvement, the cooperative is poised to further its impact on the well-being of its members and the broader community.

 

San Mariano AR Coop starts operation of Project INSPIRE

In the heart of Lal-lo, Cagayan, the San Mariano Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SMARC) stands as a beacon of resilience and innovation in the agricultural sector. Established on May 10, 2021, SMARC has been unwavering in its commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of its members through sustainable farming practices. 

​The San Mariano Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SMARC) is recognized as an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO). This designation indicates that SMARC comprises agrarian reform beneficiaries who collaborate to enhance their agricultural productivity and livelihoods. The cooperative has been a recipient of various support initiatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), among others. A significant milestone in their journey is the recent inauguration of a ₱5.5 million swine facility, a project realized in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Integrated National SwineProduction Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program.

A Timely Intervention Amidst Challenges. The swine industry in the region faced a severe setback due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, which led to substantial economic losses among local farmers. In response, the DA launched the INSPIRE program to rejuvenate the swine industry by providing essential infrastructure and support to affected communities. SMARC emerged as a key beneficiary of this initiative, receiving a state-of-the-art swine facility designed to bolster their livestock operations and promote long-term agricultural sustainability.

State-of-the-Art Facilities for Sustainable Growth. The newly inaugurated facility is equipped with advanced features aimed at enhancing productivity and ensuring biosecurity. It includes a modern piggery with a ventilation system, a biogas facility for waste management, a caretaker shower room to maintain hygiene standards, and a perimeter fence for security. These features not only aim to increase production capacity but also ensure that operations adhere to environmental and health standards, setting a benchmark for sustainable livestock farming in the region.

Community and Leadership Endorsement. The project's significance was underscored during the turnover ceremony, where National Livestock Program Deputy Director Nover Lee Calub emphasized that the initiative transcends infrastructure development. He highlighted its role in shaping the future of families and the broader community, stating, "This is not just about a facility; it's about the future of your families and the future of your community." Local leaders echoed this sentiment. Vice Mayor Maria Olivia Pascual expressed gratitude for the timely support, acknowledging its potential to mitigate the adverse effects of the ASF crisis in the region. Ricky Cabañero, chairperson of SMARC, credited the project's success to collective effort, emphasizing that it represents a shared vision for a sustainable agricultural future.

A Vision for the Future. With the support of the INSPIRE program, SMARC is poised to make a significant impact on local agricultural practices and contribute to national food security efforts. The cooperative's proactive approach serves as an inspiring model for other agrarian communities, demonstrating that through collaboration, innovation, and resilience, it is possible to overcome challenges and pave the way for a prosperous and sustainable future in agriculture. Photos: Ricky Cabanero

ROBA ARC counters Climate Change hazards with Bamboo Plantation

      The municipality of Enrile in Cagayan province is on the frequent path of typhoons. It is often visited by other disasters such as flood, man-made and other natural calamities. According to the climate projection of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), unfavourable changes in climate conditions will be expected in 2006-2035 for the southern part of Cagayan where Enrile is located. Such changes may have direct or indirect effect on the farming activities of the ROBA Agrarian Reform Community (ROBA ARC) farmers. Temperature in the area is projected to increase at an average of 0.9 degree Celsius in 2006-2035 (2020). Temperature will be highest in months of June-August. PAGASA also projects significant increase in rainfall by 16.3% in months of September-November when the season of corn planting starts, which is an alarming increase in all aspects of climate events. ROBA ARC is also threatened by the projected tripling in the number of days with rainfall above 200 mm. Heavy rainfall is identified as the primary cause of soil erosion in the area. Eroded farms may eventually result to loss of livelihood of the farmers.

Enrile town in Cagayan province is easily flooded during typhoon season and wrecks havoc on farms along Cagayan River. Photo: LGU-Cagayan

     Roma Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Roma Sur MPC) is the lead agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization (ARBO) within the ROBA ARC located in the municipality of Enrile, Cagayan which embraces barangays Roma Sur, Roma Norte and Batu (with Liwan Norte and San Antonio as expansion barangays).  

     To counter the devastating effects of climate change in their community, members of Roma Sur MPC was able to access a total of P716,230 (P650,000 from DAR; P20,000 from LGU and P40,230 as its counterpart) for funding a project entitled: The Promotion of Climate Change Adaptive Measures to Counter Adverse Effects in ROBA ARC (Planting of Bamboo Along Contours and Riverbanks with Climate Change Adaptation Capability Training). The project was duly approved under DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) services.

Roma Sur MPC in ROBA ARC was able to acquire funds from DAR-CRFPS for a Bamboo Plantation project. (Photo by: Lau Miguel)

     The project provides environmental protection through the planting of bamboo along the contours and riverbanks which primarily addresses the concern on the rapid erosion and disappearance of farmlands near the Cagayan River.  This component is being pursued in close partnership with the LGU and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It also involves the establishment of a five thousand square-meter Bamboo Nursery for the propagation of propagules locally known as Kawayan Tinik and Bayog after which they are planted into a five-hectare plantation both managed by the ARBO. The five-hectare bamboo plantation will be the source for the of the member’s income generating project.  

Bamboo seedlings for the Nursery. (Photo by: Lau Miguel) 

      The remaining propagules will be sold at reasonable price so as to generate income and portion of the money raised will be used again for the next cycle of the bamboo propagule-growing to cater to the additional demands on bamboo seedlings. This is a cost recovery and an income generating project. Net proceeds will be capitalized on the next batch of bamboo production making the project self-liquidating and sustainable.

      The bamboo harvested from the project will become a sustainable source of raw materials for the bamboo craft industry of the ARB organization and for other bamboo requirements of third parties such as construction scaffolding, bahay-kubo builders, bamboo furniture, etc. As part of their community involvement and contribution to the overall development goal of the Municipality, the cooperative will provide a portion of seedlings to the LGU as their counterpart to the Greening Program of the municipality.

    The member of the ARBO were also provided with capability training on Climate Change Adaptation and Bamboo Farming. Climate change is a phenomenon that needs to be fully understood by everyone.  The series of events that led to drastic changes in weather patterns, which now threatens the lives, livelihood and practically the very existence of this civilization, is not singlehandedly accounted to an act, a group or an individual for that matter. 

      Climate change is an effect of the collaborative actions, and sometimes inaction, of a generation so much bent on consumerism – the resultant culture of industrialization.  To counter its impact and reverse its consequences, whenever possible, its origins, nature, effects and countermeasures were studied and explained.

    Incorporating further in the capability building were skills training on bamboo farming to strengthen the capacity of ARBs to handle and manage the project effectively. The farmers, their organizations, households and their entire community were encouraged to learn adaptive measures and put into practice eco-friendly technologies in their day-to-day activities.
     Machineries and equipment were provided as part of the mechanization aspect for easier and timely production and postharvest operations.  It reduces drudgery of field work and lowers production costs. These machineries and equipment would be very essential in the production activities of the project i.e. hauling of seedlings from nursery to plantation, plantation site (harvested bamboo poles) to production and manufacturing center of furniture and handicrafts (ARBO’s existing enterprise), it will also function as service vehicle of the ARBO for the delivery of pre-ordered furniture and seedlings trading.  Aside from these inevitable uses, said machineries can also be utilize in other farm activities of farmer-members. Suggested machineries can be an income generating equipment itself through custom hiring. The ARBO could maximize the utilization of the equipment and have an extra earnings since custom hiring is a growing industry now a days because of the emerging trend in farm mechanization. 

Farm machineries for the Bamboo Plantation project were also provided. 

     The Roma Sur MPC has long acknowledged the potential of bamboo furniture as an income source.  For several years, members of this cooperative in ROBA ARC have augmented their farm income from the sale of sala sets, chairs, tables, beds and lampshades made of bamboo.  However, the production of good quality furniture is hampered by the lack of technology and the insufficient supply of bamboo to the ARC. Bamboo farming and bamboo processing are well suited to the twin concerns of livelihood enhancement and environmental protection – the key components for developing third world countries today. The production of these products can be organized and formed as industries that provide material benefits and livelihood development to the people.

     Climate impacts do not affect all communities equally. The region's most vulnerable areas, including low-income communities, often bear a disproportionate burden of climate impacts. Geography also determines a community's exposure to climate effects. For instance, communities have greater exposure to flooding based on their underlying natural landscapes, infrastructure capacities, and impervious surface coverage. To successfully build climate resilience, the region must address the complex intersections of these built, natural, and social systems.

      The municipality of Enrile in Cagayan province is one of the most vulnerable areas, being located among the low-income communities. It often endures a disproportionate burden of climate impacts. It has a greater exposure to flooding due to typhoons and heavy rains which always challenges its move towards attaining a sustainable agro-industrial growth. To successfully build climate resilience, the community must address the compound intersections of natural and social systems affecting its existence. One of these measures is the Bamboo plantation in the ROBA Agrarian Reform Community. /with Marvi Trinidad-Bulan

DAR grants Nabbotuan MPC Php257k for Muscovado sugar processing

     The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) of Cagayan-Batanes led the ground breaking ceremony of the Nabbotuan Multi-Purpose Cooperative in barangay Nabbotuan, Solana, Cagayan wherein the later is a recipient of Two Hundred Fifty-Seven Thousand and Five Hundred pesos as funding for the construction/expansion of their Muscovado Sugar processing center under the DAR’s Village Level Processing Center and Enhancement Project (VLPCEP).

     The ceremony was also attended by the very supportive officials of the Local Government Unit of Solana headed by Mayor Jenalyn Carag. Barangay officials of Nabbotuan also warmly welcomed the project as an indication of increasing capacity of women and men to participate in, contribute to and benefit from growth processes in ways that recognise the value of their contributions, respect their dignity and making it possible to negotiate a fairer distribution of the benefits of growth vis-à-vis their local economy.

     Nabbotuan MPC is an agrarian reform organization (ARBO) within the FURABAN Agrarian Reform Community. The Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) Development Strategy was adopted in 1993 to focus on priority agrarian reform areas to maximize resource allocation, complementation, and mobilization for greater efficiency and impact taking into consideration the limited financial and material resources of the government.

      An ARC is a barangay or cluster of contiguous barangays within a municipality where majority of the CARP-covered lands have been awarded to a critical mass of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).  The ARC strategy applies the integrated area development approach where the ARBs and their communities are the primary focal points of development interventions.

     Once completed, the processing center shall help increase the livelihood of the members of the cooperative.  They will process raw sugar into Muscovado sugar which commands a higher price due to its higher demand by reason of its health benefits.

     Muscovado sugar is the unrefined dark brown sugar that is more sticky and courser than the regular brown sugar. It is the instantaneous sugar created in crystallizing sugarcane juice. In contrast with other sugars, Muscovado sugar has a distinctive flavor and taste that retains the natural flavor and color of the sugarcane juice, as such it is also considered as the purest form of sugar. It also retains the natural nutrients such as calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, iron, zinc and other vitamins. It is also rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, proteins, fiber, etc., with are usually destroyed by filtering, bleaching and heating during the production of the regular refined white sugar.

     The VLPCEP aims to develop market competitive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) products and enhance enterprise and livelihood activities at the community level in selected agrarian reform areas through assistance in product value-adding, improvement of facilities, and assistance in documentation and Food and Drug Administration license application. The implementation of the project is part of the mandate of DAR to provide support services to ARCs.

     Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) executed between the DAR and the ARBO, the members of the cooperative shall manage and maintain the processing center, keep and maintain the recording system for the activity, and shall ensure the continuous production of Muscovado sugar as an additional business enterprise of the cooperative.  

See: photos on Facebook

CABAYABASAN ARB COOP COOKS WITH FREE UNLI METHANE GAS

Another agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO), that is, Cabayabasan Farmers Credit Cooperative in the Nueva Segovia Agrarian Reform Community in Lallo, Cagayan province is now enjoying the benefits of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s CPWASH project.

Methane is an important natural gas commonly used for fuel and electricity generation. 

A CPWASH is a potable water project implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) which stands for Community-Managed Potable Water Supply and Hygiene project. It is a regular project being undertaken by DAR to install low-cost water supply technology and sanitation systems that provides safe, clean and potable water for the agrarian reform beneficiary households in Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs).

The first chamber of the bio-gas digester.

A CPWASH project is composed of four sub-projects, that is: (1) the rain water collector to hoard and store rainwater to be recycled before it reaches the aquifer; (2) the bio-sand filter to remove pathogens and suspended particles and reduce discoloration, odor and unpleasant taste; (3) the iron removal filter, to filter iron from the water to eliminate staining, the unpleasant smell and taste of the water; and (4) the bio-gas digester to convert organic waste into usable fuel. Funds for the projects are sourced from DAR and some counterpart from the LGU and the proponent cooperative/ARBO.

The second chamber of the bio-gas digester under construction. 

Unlimited bio-gas fuel for cooking is now available for the beneficiaries through the methane from the bio-gas digester. The raw materials for methane production comes from the animal waste of swine raised by the ARBs. As such, significantly large costs for cooking fuel is saved by ARBs. The ARB households have also stopped the traditional use of firewood as fuel for cooking in the community. The output from the digester (digested waste) can also be used as a high quality organic liquid fertilizer which can be sold for farmers at a much lower price than commercial fertilizers.

The second chamber being attached to the first chamber bio-gas digester which is later cemented. 

Farmers who have completed the CPWASH hands-on training will also be given Certificates of Training as Para-Engineers and can be summoned to build other CPWASH facility on other sites, which is another business opportunity for them or their cooperatives. 

The completed and installed operational bio-gas digester already producing methane gas fuel.

Installing the water filters.  Photos courtesy of Engr. Domingo Garello

Inspecting the Bio-gas facility, now the source of unlimited earth-friendly fuel gas for cooking.

Trying out the improvised gas burner. 

Turn-over by DARPO Cagayan to LGU Lallo of Kabayabas CPWASH Project. 

Inspecting the potable water after passing through the Iron Removal Filter. 

Photos courtesy of: Engr. Domingo Garello, Ms. Emely Salvatierra and Ms. Issandra Miguel

Flying fish processing center rises via VLPCEP center

Itbud, Uyugan,Batanes – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently launched the Village Level Processing Center Enhancement Project (VLPCEP) for the Milagrosa Multi-Purpose Cooperative, an agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) cooperative engaged in the processing of flying fish into bottled Spanish sardines.

Milagrosa MPC received a grant from the DAR amounting to P180,000.00 for the construction their fish processing center consisting of a 3.33m X 5.0m corrugated GI sheet building under the VLPCEP. The VLPCEP project is designed primarily to enhance the existing processing center with development support initiative for ARB cooperatives and other ARB organizations (ARBO), improve their capability to produce quality processed products that are highly competitive in the mainstream market including services to its members.

Further, it helps develop market- competitive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (ARBO) products through product development (e.g., labelling, packaging designs, etc.) and enrich enterprise and livelihood activities at the community level in the selected agrarian reform areas. The VLPCEP is also intended to develop homegrown products for better opportunities and linkage to potential markets.

Aside from processing flying fish into bottled Spanish sardines, the Milagrosa MPC also processes one-day old flying fish, a popular delicacy only found in Batanes, so called because the flying fish is set to dry for one day on hot stones under the sun. Also, they process the flying fish into fish balls and fish lumpia.

DAR will continue to provide capability building and skills enhancement including monitoring to sustain the project. It has also coordinated with other CARP implementing agencies such as the: Bureau of Food and Drugs for quality assurance and for Milagrosa MPC to be duly registered with BFAD and avail a license; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will also conduct trainings for cooperators and assists in the marketing aspect. Other agencies such as DOLE and DOST are likewise involved in the project. 

Links: 

Milagrosa MPC Fish Processing Center

Batanes "Dibang" one-day old flying fish

Famous Food Delicacies in Batanes

Ivatan ARBs resort to rainwater harvesting for veggie farms

The members of the San Joaquin Agrarian ReformBeneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (San Joaquin ARB-MPC) in barangay San Antonio, Basco, Batanes have found a way to harvest and store rainwater to supply the much needed fresh water for their vegetable farms during periods where water supply is scarce such as droughts and during months of insufficient rainfall in the typhoon path island province of Batanes in northern Philippines. The situation is further complicated as the available land for these vegetable farms are also located right beside the shores of the great Pacific Ocean.

The San Joaquin ARB-MPC is an agrarian reform beneficiary organization located within the San Antonio Agrarian Reform Community (San Antonio ARC). 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.

Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting rainwater for household water use, additionally, water for livestock and small irrigation. Also, it is a means to replenish groundwater levels. The common mode of rainwater harvesting is through rooftop rainwater harvesting projects. This activity addresses issues of ground water depletion brought about in part by global warming. There are reasons for ground water depletion such as: (1) Increasing demand of ground water; (2) Extracting more than recharge; (3) Reduction of recharge area due to infrastructure, road asphalting/concreting, (4) Shrinking surface water bodies; and (5) Uncertain rainfall due to climate change.

For centuries the town of Venice depended on rainwater harvesting because the lagoon surrounding Venice is made of brackish water which is not suitable for human drinking. The ancient residents of Venice developed a system of rainwater collection in order to have water to drink. As Venice acquired territories on the mainland, it started to import water by boat from local rivers.

At present, rainwater harvesting is being practiced around the world to counter the effects of climate change and has been adopted and intensified in other countries such as in Bermuda, where they have a law that requires all new construction to include rainwater harvesting adequate for the residents. The U.S. Virgin Islands also have a similar law. In Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, there are houses that are frequently equipped with homemade rainwater harvesters. In Myanmar, the groundwater is saline and communities rely on mud-lined rainwater ponds to meet their drinking water needs throughout the dry season. Some of these ponds are centuries old and are treated with great reverence and respect. In New Mexico, rainwater catchment is mandatory for new dwellings in Santa Fe. In the USA, Texas offers a sales tax exemption on the purchase of rainwater harvesting equipment. Oklahoma passed a law in 2012, to promote pilot projects for rainwater use among other water saving techniques. In Beijing, some housing societies are now adding rainwater in their main water sources after proper treatment (source: Wikipedia). 

The rainwater harvesting facility operated by the San Joaquin Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (San Joaquin ARB-MPC) in barangay San Antonio, Basco, Batanes was constructed through the initiative of the Local Government Unit (LGU) under the Bottom-Up Budgeting/Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (BUB-GPB) program with a cost of P1.9 million. It has provided the agrarian reform beneficiaries an opportunity to make the land productive and consequently increased their income. 

The rainwater harvesting facility helps mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and provides some relief for agrarian reform beneficiaries engaged in organic vegetable production. 

DAR Region 02 Regional Director Homer P. Tobias, CESO III, climbing to the roof to inspect the rainwater harvesting facility of the San Joaquin ARB-MPC. 

Rainwater collects on the roof and is stored in these tanks for future use. 

Freshwater always made available through the rainwater harvesting facility for vegetable farms like these situated along the Pacific Ocean. 

The P1.9 million BUB-GPB funded rainwater harvesting facility of San Joaquin ARB-MPC in barangay San Antonio, Basco, Batanes.

Cagayan ARC Clusters identified as proposed 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 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

ARBOs in Cagayan province granted P8.6M APCP loan

There are at least five agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in Cagayan province who have applied for loan services from the DA-DAR-LBP Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) to finance crop production that will expand agri-enterprise and livelihood projects of their members.

Three of these ARBOs’ applications have been approved as of June 2014, namely: (1) Bical-Baliuag ARB MPC in CABICA Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), Penablanca, Cagayan with a total loan release of P3,300,000.00 for agricultural production loan on corn production benefiting 54 member-ARBs; (2) Caagaman ARC Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Caagaman ARC, Aparri, Cagayan with a loan release of P1,300,000.00 for agricultural production loan on rice production benefiting 60 member-ARBs; and (3) Aparri Valley of Jothbath MPC in Seabreeze ARC, Aparri, Cagayan with a loan release of P4,000,000.00 for agricultural production loan on rice production benefiting 130 member-ARBs.

The other ARBOs who have similarly applied for loan under the APCP but are still awaiting the approval thereof are: Bugnay MPC in the Sabung ARC, Tuao, Cagayan with a loan application of P3,000,000.00 for agricultural production loan on rice production to benefit 54 member-ARBs and Cabayabasan Farmers Cooperative in Nueva Segovia ARC, Lallo, Cagayan with a loan application of P1,500,000.00 to benefit 58 member-ARBs.

According to data earlier disclosed by Mr. Virgilio M. Acasili, Provincial Agrarian Program Reform Officer II (PARPO II) of Cagayan-Batanes provinces, only 57% of farmers have access to credit from financing institutions; that one in three ARBs in ARCs is in need of credit; that new ARB organizations may still not qualify under CAP-PBD and LBP regular lending program; that some ARB organizations still require organizational strengthening to make them credit worthy; and that for these reasons the DA, DAR and LBP have to pool resources and expertise to help ARBs access affordable credit, development assistance and marketing support. 

Sometime in 2012, PresidentBenigno S. Aquino, in line with his commitment to ensure ample support for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB instructed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P1.0 billion to the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the nationwide implementation of the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP).

The release was made chargeable against the 2012 General Appropriations Act and is in accordance with a five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the DA, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Land Bank of the Philippines. It will provide much-needed credit assistance to farmer-beneficiaries under the agrarian reform program.

Under the MOA, the DA will place the P1-billion fund with Land Bank, P300 million of which will be allocated exclusively for Negros Occidental. The total fund will be used to support the credit requirements of ARBs or ARB household members for their individual or communal crop production projects including  agri-enterprise and livelihood activities.

Through the program, the DA will provide basic support and services, such as marketing assistance and technology packages to qualified ARB organizations (ARBOs). Meanwhile, DAR will be at the helm of identifying eligible ARBs or ARB household members to Landbank. The agency will also provide parallel institutional development assistance to participating ARBOs to help them graduate them to regular lending programs.

DAR will also provide capability-building assistance to beneficiaries, as well as professional management services and facilities support, including those for farm equipment, postharvest facilities, and storage, among others.

This capacity-building program is tailored for new and existing ARBs who are yet to avail loans. Adopting a more lenient set of policies and procedures in extending credit, APCP is the vehicle through which financial and technical services shall be delivered to ARBs consisting mainly of credit provisioning and capacity building to ARB organizations.

               Under this program, ARBs in organizations within the top 21 high LAD provinces shall be able to develop their knowledge and competencies in engaging and managing agri-enterprises, as well as upgrade their skills on financial management thereby enhancing their credit worthiness or bankability. /cds