The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over a hauling truck to a group of sugarcane farmers in Medellin, Cebu.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Grace B. Fua said the hauling truck provided under the agency’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP) costs around P4.1 million
“The 10-wheeler farm truck will be of great help in hauling harvested sugarcane and it will also address their need for cheaper transportation in transporting their produce,” Fua said.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III has ordered the agency’s field officials to enhance the delivery of support services to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to help sustain their sugarcane business.
Fua said the truck provided to the Panugnawan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (Panarba) came from DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP).
DAR, as the grantor of the farm truck, will monitor and evaluate the operation and management of the truck by Panarba. On the other hand, the Panarba, as the grantee, will provide the equity for the following: lot and construction of the garage, operating capital, and maintenance of the truck.
She also encouraged Panarba to formulate and submit its business plan for the management of the farm truck as a business enterprise to benefit its 80 members.
“The hauling truck will serve as an added service of Panarba to its members and non-members. The earnings from the low-rate rental of the truck will be used as a business asset of the organization and for the maintenance of the truck,” Fua said.
Panarba President William G. Auman received the hauling truck during a simple ceremony held in Medellin recently.
“This dump truck is a huge help for our farmer-members because of its lower rental fee compared to other rental trucking services,” Auman said.
Auman also promised DAR to properly maintain the truck and to address whatever problems or challenges their organization may encounter.
Image credits: Markadan via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0