By Roel Amazona/PNA
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed PHP81 million worth of heavy-duty dump trucks to agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) organizations in Eastern Visayas.
Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, Undersecretary Emily Padilla, and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla led the distribution of 18 trucks to recipients in a ceremony held at the regional office here Thursday.
Of the 18 trucks, six were given to a farmers’ group in Leyte, four each for Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces, two for Samar, and one each for Biliran and Southern Leyte.
Castriciones said the dump trucks will be used to transport agriculture products from the farm to the market. “This is like an incentive to well-performing organizations. The agency will also provide assistance to small farmers’ group, but this will depend on what the organization needs,” he said.
Among the recipients of the dump truck is Maalsada Fisco of Alang-alang, Leyte. The group’s president Reynaldo Peja said the truck would be very beneficial to their members composed mostly of rice farmers. “This dump truck can help us in transporting our palay (unhusked rice) to traders who would buy our produce at a higher price,” Peja said.
Other recipients are farmers’ group from Pastrana, Tabango, San Isidro, Merida, and Hilongos in Leyte; Naval, Biliran; San Francisco, Southern Leyte; Marabut, Samar; Borongan City, Taft, Salcedo and Maydolong in Eastern Samar; Mondragon, Victoria, San Jose, and Palapag in Northern Samar.
The DAR chief also led the inauguration of the PHP25.5-million new office building located at the back of the old regional office. The building, formerly owned by Home Guaranty Corp., was previously rented by the agency for its operations office and dormitory.
DAR also entered into a 25-year usufruct agreement with the provincial government for the use of the land where the building is located.
In his message during the inauguration, Castriciones urged DAR employees to help achieve President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s vision to make all farmers in the country become land owners.
“When we are a team, we have unity. And if we have unity, there is strength. If there is strength, we will achieve our mission the way we plan it,” he told DAR employees.
For 2019, the regional office here targets to distribute a total of 2,800 hectares of the remaining 43,000 hectares of land intended for Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program beneficiaries.
