Two agrarian reform beneficiaries associations (ARBOs) in Siargao Island will directly benefit from the renewal of partnerships between the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Caraga Region (DAR-13), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC).
The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) took place after a two-day conference between the concerned government agencies and the Nuevo Campo Agrarian Reform Cooperative (NUCARECO) of San Benito town and the Union Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (UNARBECO) on Thursday.
Leading the MOU signing were DAR-13 Director Merlita Capinpuyan, BJMP-13 Director Chief Supt. Maria Irene Esquinas and NNC-13 program coordinator Dr. Niño Archie Labordo.
The MOU between the regional DAR and BJMP offices was entered into under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program, with the ARBOs directly selling their farm products such as vegetables and fruits to the Surigao del Norte District Jail Annex in Dapa town.
The other MOU with the NNC was under the Tutok Kainan Phase 5: Supplementary Feeding Program for Pregnant Women in Siargao and Dinagat Islands.
Both ARBOs have 111 agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) members and 44 non-ARB members.
In a phone interview Friday, UNARBECO chairperson Leytesur Butal said they received vegetable seeds, organic fertilizers, a tractor, and a greenhouse from DAR-Caraga through the PAHP early 2021.
“However, (Super) Typhoon Odette destroyed our vegetables and the greenhouse and affected our project,” Butal said, referring to the tropical cyclone that severely hit parts of Caraga, including Dinagat, in December 2021.
He said the DAR helped the organization recover and since the middle of 2022 to date, their vegetable project has already gained ground.
In a statement Friday, the DAR-13 said the MOUs are expected to generate around PHP1.2 million in gross sales for the ARBOs in one year.
“The promotion of our ARBOs in terms of marketing will play a crucial role towards their sustainability and boost in income,” the agency said. (PNA)
