The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed yesterday, January 4, 2022, relief goods to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Oriental, one of the provinces greatly affected by Typhoon Odette which devastated the country last December.
DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz, who led the distribution of relief goods, comprising of rice and canned goods, in the towns of Mabinay and Bais City, said they visited the place not only to provide the immediate needs of the farmers at the moment, but also to see the actual situation of the farmers and listen to their concerns and needs on how they can best recover their devastated livelihood.
“President Rodrigo Duterte asked me to look after the ARB’s welfare and pool the agency’s resources to help the farmers affected by the typhoon,” Cruz said.
The Secretary revealed that the department would immediately provide the ARBs with various farm machineries, farm inputs, credit assistance and training to ensure that livelihood opportunities in the communities would be available.
Prior to this, Cruz directed all the DAR field officials to prioritize and fast-track the acquisition and distribution of unused government-owned lands (GOLs) and private agricultural lands, which should be accomplished and distributed within the first three months of 2022.
Before 2021 ended, the DAR chief required all regional directors to submit on or before January 10, 2022, a consolidated list of all unused GOLs inventory and private agricultural lands for distribution in the first quarter of 2022.
“We will comply with the President’s instructions, we will expedite the distribution of agricultural lands and prioritize the victims of the recent typhoon,” he added.
The regions which were hardest hit by typhoon Odette include Caraga, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa. (DAR)-rir
