A total of 300 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the three (3) towns of Masbate are expected to boost their farming operations as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provided them with Php5,744,000.00 worth of farm machinery and equipment.
Elmor C. Sese, 82 years old, president of Libertad Agrarian Reform Movement for Improvement Organization located in Libertad, Uson, Masbate, on behalf of its members, expressed his gratitude and pledged to take care of the equipment they received.
“You can count on us that the machinery and equipment will be taken care of and cherished in the same way we love ourselves,” he said.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III led the turnover of farm machinery and equipment (FME) to uplift the lives of farmer-members from the four (4) agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in Masbate.
The following organizations received the FMEs from DAR: Buenavista Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization in Buenavista, Uson with one unit 35hp 4wd tractor with implements (rotavator, disc plow, disc harrow, furrower, trailer); Libertad Agrarian Reform Movement for Improvement Organization in Libertad, Uson with one unit 35hp 4wd tractor with implements (rotavator, disc plow, disc harrow, furrower, trailer); Agricultural System Industrial Diverse Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Asid, Masbate City with one unit 35hp 4wd tractor with implements (rotavator); and the Bayanihan Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bayanihan, San Pascual with one unit 35hp 4wd tractor with implements (rotavator).
Estrella said the initiative is a testament to the DAR’s commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of farmers and ensuring that ARBs will have access to the resources for them to help contribute to the growth of the local economy.
“With the farm machinery and equipment, these organizations can now provide services to their ARB members, adjoining ARB organizations, and other small farmers in the community,” Estrella said.
Out of the total of Php5 million in farm machinery and equipment, Php2 million were procured under that DAR’s SuRe ARCs and Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP) program, while the Php3.744 million machinery and equipment was provided through the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP).
The company was accompanied by Masbate 1st district representative Ricardo T. Kho, Masbate 2nd district representative Atty. Ara T. Kho, Masbate 3rd district representative Wilton T. KhO, Undersecretary for Field Operations Office (FOO) Atty. Kazel C. Celeste, Undersecretary Support Services Office (SSO) Atty. Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal and Bicol Regional Director Reuben Theodore C. Sindac during the event.
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