TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 29 (PNA) -– More than a hundred agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) throughout Eastern Visayas received farm equipment after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over 184 common service facilities (CSFs) amounting to PHP72 million.
Undersecretary for Support Services Rosalina Bistoyong, who led the turnover rites explained that these equipment were the recommended farm implements by the state universities and colleges (SUCs) commissioned by the Department to conduct the needs assessment and design assessment under the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) project.
Under ARCCESS, the government develops the capabilities of the ARBOs in becoming farmer-entrepreneurs, Bistoyong added, thus they provide them the necessary CSFs.
Meanwhile, DAR Regional Director Sheila Enciso disclosed that among the projects the ARBOs engaged in are rice production and marketing, cassava production and processing, organic vegetable production, coco coir and geotextile production, banana production and diversified cropping system.
Turned over farm implements were 86 hand tractors, which amounted to PHP15.01 million, 58 rice threshers (PHP 10.1 million), 17 floating tillers (PHP 3.5 million), 12 rice reapers (PHP2.09 million), eight 4WD 90HP tractors (PHP30.5 million), two 4WD 120HP tractors (PHP 7.9 million) and one 4WD 35HP tractor (PHP2.9 million).
According to Enciso, there were ARBOs provided with more than one equipment based on the recommendations of the state universities and colleges.
The 12 ARBOs in the fourth district of Leyte who are into rice production and marketing received six hand tractors with implements, six rice threshers and six rice reapers.
ARBOs are tasked to take the responsibilities in the maintenance of these machines.
With these CSFs and after undergoing intensive trainings from various professional service providers (PSPs), Bistoyong told the farmers that the government is expecting a great improvement in their quality of life. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/PR/EGR
