Three Cagayan ARBOs to receive P5.5 million as INSPIRE Program recipients

On May 10, 2021, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, declared Proclamation No. 1143, - “State of Calamity throughout the Philippines due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) Outbreak.” As a consequence, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program and Bantay ASF sa Barangay or BABAy ASF Program, programs which are aimed to institutionalize biosecurity and disease control measures along with calibrated repopulation and enhancement of the local swine industry to recover from the economic disaster caused by the ASF outbreak. The program also aims to recover the industry’s capacity to locally produce sufficient supply of hogs and pork and urged the private sector such a Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCA) to participate in the repopulation program.

The ASF affected farmers in Cagayan experienced financial losses from the epidemic. As a result, most smallholder pig farms lost their incomes and struggled to repay loans, and because of biosecurity requirements, most backyard farms closed and the pigs were culled. Data also revealed that most actors in the value chain suffered significant losses because of ASF. 

In Cagayan province, prospective INSPIRE program recipients were identified, and after passing the criteria, three (3) Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs), namely: (1) Mabuhay Agri-Crop Multipurpose Cooperative in Piat, Cagayan; (2) San Mariano Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Lallo, Cagayan; and (3) Mt Cagua Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Sta Clara Gonzaga Cagayan were approved. As program recipients, they will receive PHP5.5 million in aid, which includes pigs, feeds, and a modern pig facility with ventilation system, a biogas facility, a caretaker shower room, and a perimeter fence. 

The project would speed up efforts to repopulate pigs so that there would be a steady supply of high-quality hogs and help the local market sell more high-quality pork. The above-named ARBOs are being assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) thru the various technical assistance available under its CARP support services for agrarian reform beneficiaries.             

Photos by: Emely Salvatiera and Joyce Calubong

Launching of the DA-INSPIRE program at Mabuhay Agri-Crop Multipurpose Cooperative, Warat, Piat, Cagayan.

Launching of DA-INSPIRE program San Mariano Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Lallo, Cagayan

Launching of DA-INSPIRE program at Mt Cagua Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Sta Clara Gonzaga Cagayan.

DAR turns over P33.3M “Tulay ng Pangulo” in Allacapan, Cagayan.

 

The Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project at PATASDA ARC in Pacac, Allacapan, Cagayan

Allacapan, Cagayan - Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and other residents of PATASDA Agrarian Reform Community (PATASDA ARC) in Pacac, Allacapan, Cagayan will now have a safer and more convenient  way to cross the river to transport their harvests and other agricultural products to the market due to the completion of the  two-lane 34.2 linear meter metallic bridge costing Php33,300,000.00 facilitated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Allacapan headed by Mayor Harry D. Florida. The TPKP project uses pre-fabricated materials imported from France and is said to be of the same quality materials used in the world  famous Eifel Tower in Paris. 

DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz led the turnover ceremony of the Php33.3 million metallic bridge. 

The DAR headed by then Secretary Bernie Cruz led the inauguration and turnover of the said bridge with Allacapan municipal Mayor Harry D. Florida and other representatives from the local government unit (LGU), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and DAR central, regional and provincial offices. Aside from easier access to farmers, the new bridge will also help the residents in availing various support services. The bridge also links neighboring barangays to the economic mainstream and opens opportunities for the ARBs and other stakeholders to enhance their agricultural productivity and household income. 

The TPKP aims to promote rural development primarily in agrarian reform communities. 

The bridge, a project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP), aims to promote rural development primarily  in agrarian reform communities, enhance productivity and income through reduced marketing cost, and alleviate poverty among agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in agrarian reform areas.

Allacapan municipal Mayor Harry D. Florida receiving yet again another significant project from DAR. 
 

Nabbotuan Farmers MPC and BJMP-Tuguegarao renew marketing agreement under EPAHP program.

 

TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Nabbotuan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) in Nabbotuan, Solana, Cagayan recently signed a Marketing Agreement  under Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger & Poverty (EPAHP) Project with the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP) - Tuguegarao, wherein the ARBO shall supply the needed fresh vegetables by the BJMP.

The EPAHP is a program of the Inter-Agency Task Force Zero Hunger, created under Executive Order No. 101, the objective of which is to mitigate hunger, ensure food security, reduce poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized communities and also to establish sustainable agriculture by 2030.

Among the strategies being implemented are coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and to establish marketing arrangements for various ARBOs in the province to provide them with programs to improve their livelihood activities. Agrarian reform beneficiaries, small farmers and fisherfolks are the priority sectors of the EPAHP which may help them cope up with the ongoing pandemic. The DAR, for their part, will assist the ARBOs and the farmers in the production and timely delivery of the food items for marketing, support services, access to financial assistance, capacity-building and technical support.

Under the EPAHP, the DAR will facilitate marketing assistance to the ARBOs by linking them to institutional markets through the forging of marketing agreements with DOH-retained hospitals, Provincial Jails, Provincial Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, and provide basic social, agricultural, and technical support services under the DSWD, DA, LBP, etc. Also included are supplementation feeding programs for schools, etc.

The signing of the marketing agreement was attended by representatives from the BJMP-Tuguegarao, ARBO representative from Nabbotuan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and facilitated by the DAR Cagayan-Batanes Provincial Office headed PARPO II Val Cristobal and DAR Provincial  Office staff.

P17B insurance protection for ARBs provided by DAR and PCIC

Quezon City, Philippines, September 17, 2022 - The insurance protection plan is contained in the joint program called the “Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries-Agricultural Insurance Program (ARB-AIP).” The ARB-AIP will benefit over 224,000 ARBs or members of their households who are actually cultivating around 330,000 hectares of land and engaged in raising some 30,700 farm animals, who are eligible for insurance premium subsidy.

From these ARBs, there are estimated 99,580 rice farmers tilling 178,801 hectares;  37,772 corn farmers cultivating around 72,506 hectares; and about 85,760 commercial crop farmers cultivating around 78,633 hectares. Nine hundred twenty four (924) farmers raise 30,742 animals.

Each eligible ARB shall have access to protection cover up to three hectares (maximum award per CARP beneficiary) and up to three types of insurance coverage only which is good for two cropping seasons.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), has partnered with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to provide some P17.1 billion worth of crop insurance protection to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) over the next two cropping seasons.

The insurance protection plan is the first such collaboration between two of the country’s main rural development agencies and the biggest group plan ever issued by the DA-PCIC. It aims to provide the ARBs a safety net against fortuitous events caused by climate change, also crop pests and diseases.  

Additionally, beneficiaries will be provided protection against loss of limbs or life under its Accident and Dismemberment Security Scheme. To qualify, the program beneficiaries must be participants of key DAR programs, such as the Agrarian Reform Connectivity andEconomic Support Service (ARCCESS), Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP), Credit Assistance Program for Program Beneficiaries Development (CAP-PBD) and Microfinance Capacity Development in Agrarian Reform Areas. DAR will identify the eligible beneficiaries.

DAR will put up the premium subsidy worth P1B from the DAR-GPS for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries. Of the amount, P533.78M will be allocated for rice farmers, P385.82, corn farmers, P79.09M for high value crop farmers, P1.31M for livestock. The premium cost for the individual farmer’s life and limb coverage amounting to P5.43M would come from interest income of the DAR-Government Premium Subsidy (DAR-GPS) Fund.

For its part, DA-PCIC will provide the insurance cover worth some P17.07B from which some P4.94B will be reserved for rice, P2B for corn, P2.35B for commercial crops, P13M for livestock, and some P7.77B for the individual farmer’s life and limb.

In cases where the insured risks happens, the DA-PCIC will pay out damage claims from these beneficiaries within 20 days, less than the 60-day reglementary period. This is made possible by the ISO-certified systems and processes established by the DA-PCIC.

Depending on the extent of damage and the cost of farm investment, the farmers may receive payments for damages worth P39,000 to P52,000 per hectare for inbred and hybrid rice, respectively;  P28,000 and P40,000 for every hectare of open-pollinated and hybrid corn, respectively;  and  up to P50,000 for life and limb. These are various indemnity figures for commercial crops and animals as there are many types of crops and animals involved.

Link: DAR-PCIC orientation (on Facebook page)

SALAMIN MPC and BJMP-Tuao District Jail renew EPAHP Marketing Agreement

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan -The SALAMIN Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a duly registered agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) based in Tuao, Cagayan and the Tuao District Jail under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 signed the renewed marketing agreement wherein the former shall supply the later with fresh vegetables as one of the needs of the BJMP.

The members of the SALAMIN MPC are graduates of the Farm Business School (FBS) which was established by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-ATI) and the local government unit of Tuao (LGU-Tuao). It is aimed to build up the capabilities of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in handling and marketing their farm products through trainings on bookkeeping, cash flows, market surveys, labor, product selling, product costing and proper packaging of their products. Consequently, they have a profitable fresh vegetable business enterprise.

The marketing agreement is based on the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). The EPAHP is one of the banner programs of the Inter-Agency Task Force Zero Hunger, created under Executive Order No. 101, January 10, 2020, whose objective is to mitigate hunger, ensure food nutrition security, and establish sustainable agriculture by 2030. Among the strategies are coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and to establish marketing arrangements for various Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs). It is also intended to contribute to the national government efforts in addressing hunger and poverty through the synergy and convergence of essential services of participating EPAHP partners directly benefiting the poorer sector of the country. Under this program, the rural communities are encouraged to enhance social capital and optimize economic resource base through feeding programs, food-production programs, and essential support services, including the participation of community-based organizations in government procurement as partners and/or service providers. This reinforced convergence and synergy among the different government agencies and other development partners will revolutionize the journey towards social development. Through the EPAHP, better engagement with rural communities, enhancement of social capital and optimization of economic resource base is possible.

The renewal of the marketing agreement between SALAMIN MPC and BJMP-Tuao District Jail was attended by BJMP officials - JINSP Atty. Randy A. Dupilas, District Jail Warden; JOI Kay Anthony Q. Abarriao, Food Service Supervisor; and SALAMIN MPC officers - William A. Olang, Chairman and Tessie C. Bansag, Treasurer. The event was likewise witnessed by DARPO-Cagayan officials led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO II) Val M. Cristobal, OIC-PARPO I Pedro Barasi and Novelita Edraira, EPAHP Focal Person.  Photos by: Joana Marie Soriano-Cho

SALAMIN MPC Chairman William Olang and BJMP representative JOI Kay Anthony Abarriao signing the Marketing Agreement. 

DARPO-Cagayan PARPO II Val M. Cristobal and other officials witnessing the signing of the Marketing Agreement. 

The EPAHP is one of the banner programs of the Inter-Agency Task Force Zero Hunger, created under Executive Order No. 101, whose objective is to mitigate hunger, ensure food nutrition security, and establish sustainable agriculture by 2030. 

Govt gives CARP lands to agri-grads in Cagayan

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Cagayan province, through President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 75, Series of 2019, acquired and distributed the 549-hectare portion of the Cagayan State University in Lallo town, Cagayan province under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Some 382 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), 30 of whom are graduates of agriculture courses shall be given farmlots for free. This is the first time that the department would give free lands to agricultural graduates.

The Certificate of Landownership Award (CLOA) titles were handed to them by no less than the DAR Secretary, Atty. John R. Castriciones in a landmark ceremony held at the DAR Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City on February 5, 2021. It is proof of the government’s resolve to pursue the constitutionally mandated agrarian reform program.

The objective of the activity, among others, is to encourage the youth to pursue agriculture. The government is seriously encouraging the younger generation to take the reins from aging farmer-leaders, to help attain national food security, and push the nation’s agriculture into the future. Presently, the government is providing them the much-needed support services, such agricultural lands, credit, capacity- building, and post-graduate scholarships, etc., to make agriculture a sustainable career that can be a steady source of income and make agriculture as a passion and career. 

There is great potential for the modernization of Philippine agriculture due to the youth’s technological insights and vitality, they can navigate the nation’s agriculture en route to the digital and smart technologies such as monitoring, analysis and reporting technology through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analysis. These are the young farmers that will revolutionize our agri sector towards economies of scale in the once very rural countryside. 

According to a study, the country could a face shortage of farmers if the current agricultural workforce will not be replenished by young farmers. It also showed that the number of students in agricultural courses have been declining yearly by 1.5 percent. The lands acquired by DAR for distribution were unutilized government-owned lands (GOLs), subjected under Executive Order (EO) No. 75, Series of 2019. (Photos by: Engr. Cherryl Tugude. Engr. Vanessa Layugan, Ms Jenalyn Baleva. et. al.)

DAR Secretary Atty John R Castriciones hands over CLOA
title to land awarded to agriculture graduates. 

The agri-grad ARBs during the organic farm visit in Tagaytay

Some of the 30 agriculture graduates-CARP beneficiaries on
their awarded farmlots in Lallo, Cagayan. 

ARBs and the DARPO-Cagayan EO 75/GOL Survey Team.

 

An area of around 549.0000 hectares was acquired for distribution 
to 382 agrarian reform beneficiaries (includes 30 agri-graduates). 

DAR Cagayan Valley 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Filipinos are ready for electric vehicles

Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit

Technological developments in battery and charging, longer travelling distances, government support are pushing the advancement of the next big market in transportation.

The global electric vehicle (EV) market is catching up to Filipinos as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and other automotive companies are bringing in fresh options for the electric vehicle market.

The Nissan-commissioned study by Frost & Sullivan, titled "Future of Electric Vehicles in Southeast Asia," was released in Singapore at Nissan Futures, a gathering of industry leaders, government officials and media. Consumer research in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines reveals that 37% of prospective buyers are open to considering an electric vehicle as their next car. Customers in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia emerged as the most enthusiastic about electric cars.

 The study "Future of Electric Vehicles in Southeast Asia" was conducted by Frost & Sullivan in January 2018 in six countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The findings are based on 1,800 online customer responses and face-to-face discussions.  (Courtesy: Nissan Motor Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.; Frost & Sullivan Corporate Communications, Asia-Pacific)

DAR allots P300-M to aid farmers during COVID19 pandemic

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has allotted PHP300 million to finance its ongoing project "The PaSSOver: ARBOld Move to Heal as One Deliverance of our ARBs from the Covid-19 Pandemic,” a project in response to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Republic Act 11469, where the President Rodrigo Duterte directed all government agencies to provide, protect and promote the welfare of the people amid the COVID19 health crisis. Throughout the nation, there are thousands of CARP farmer-beneficiaries adversely affected by the COVID19 pandemic.

     Admittedly, the biggest and most important sector in the country affected by this crisis is the food service industry, the Philippines being a nation with a thriving agricultural backbone, the lockouts throughout Luzon (which later on expanded to some major provinces in Visayas and Mindanao) caused farmers and agricultural workers suddenly unable to produce, tend their farms, and market their products. It also resulted to laborers losing job opportunities resulting to massive loss of income.

     As the public were forced by the crisis to stay in their homes to protect themselves and their families, the local economy ground to a halt but expenses continue to pile up. Business establishments remain closed and some may never open up again. All of a sudden, the agri sector is experiencing the largest loss of income in human history due to the deadly and highly contagious COVID19 pandemic, putting a sudden stop to physical interactions and almost none on business transactions.

     According to DAR Secretary JohnR. Castriciones, the budget for the project will be taken from the realigned budget of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Sustainability Program (ARBDSP) and unobligated allotment from the different units of the DAR Support Services Office (SSO). The project aims to give essential support to ARBs for them to be able to perform their roles in ensuring food sufficiency in the country.

     The project intends to provide immediate and essential support services to men and women agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to mitigate the impact of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures due to the pandemic and to address the demands affecting the agricultural sector even after the ECQ has been lifted or upon the start of the “new normal.”

The PaSSOver: ARBOld Move project will provide enable the ARBs, individually and collectively, to continue performing their roles as frontliners in ensuring food sufficiency for the nation. DAR is assisting the farmers in the distribution and delivery of agri products by issuing quarantine passes so they could pass through checkpoints in critical areas under ECQ.

     The Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) will also be provided with farm inputs such as seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm tools to enable them to resume planting crops for continuous food supply. It will cover 7,000 hectares nationwide with 90,839 individual ARBs to benefit from the project. ARB identification cards (ARB IDs) are also being issued and distributed under the PaSSOver: ARBOld Move project. The ID cards are being given to identify ARBs and facilitate their access to the government's social amelioration programs (SAPs). As of April 24, a total of 77,119 ARB IDs have been distributed by the DAR.

     The project will also extend its support to 1,200 women ARBs nationwide by providing them with livelihood activities, especially in food production such as egg and poultry production, hog fattening, and similar activities based on their preferences and capabilities to ensure they have food on their tables and products to sell.

    According to DAR SSO Undersecretary Atty. Emily Padilla, “the project will also provide packages containing supplemental food, hygiene products and vitamins to ARB households. Each package will contain 4 kilos of rice, 4 canned sardines, 4 packs instant noodles, 2 pieces bath soap, 10 pieces face masks and a bottle of 50 pieces vitamin C. A total of 126,565 qualified ARBs will benefit from these packages. “Helping our ARBs will ensure that their agricultural production, livelihood and income will continue during this health crisis. It will also ensure sustained supply of adequate, affordable and safe food necessary for Filipino consumers even upon the 'new normal' will be implemented,"

     Meantime, in Cagayan province, the DAR Provincial Office personnel are presently going around different municipalities distributing initially the relief packs for agrarian reform farmer-beneficiaries, to be followed immediately with the distribution of farm inputs and livelihood kits, to help farmers get on and move on to the new normal. (Photos by: Mimi Atal-Mora)
CLICK PHOTOs to view: