The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the local government unit (LGU) of Bago City in Negros Occidental will put up irrigation facilities to help farmer-members of an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) engaged in vegetable production increase their yield.
The DAR and Bago, Negros Occidental LGU forged a partnership to fight hunger in the area.
DAR-Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Lucrecia S. Taberna said a memorandum of agreement was signed by the DAR and the LGU, paving the way for the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program in the area.
Taberna said that under the agreement, the DAR would provide a total project cost of P340,000 for the construction of the 2.5 m x 2.5m x 2.5 m water concrete tank.
Of the total amount, P240,000 is intended for the pipelines and fitting materials and P100,00,000 for travel expenses, office supplies, and other technology-related and training expenses.
“The local government unit of Bago City, Negros Occidental would provide labor manpower with an estimated amount of P50,000 as their project counterpart,” she said in a statement.
Taberna said Paghida-et Farm Workers Association (PAFWA), the direct beneficiary of the project, continually provides services to its members, through various social-economic activities and expands its services to include the provision of livelihood project facilities.
“The project is a big opportunity for the PAFWA for their development and this would be a challenge to them to increase its membership to make it a cooperative.”
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Engineer Arnulfo T. Figueroa also encouraged the association to expand their membership.
“DAR will assist and empower the agrarian reform beneficiaries [ARBs] and their ARBOs to increase their production and engagement in agri-based and related enterprises,” he said.
Figueroa noted that the project is being implemented to support the ARBs so that they can provide a continuous supply of vegetables to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and motivate them to enhance their agricultural production.