DAR Province of Agusan del Norte Newsletter 4th issue 2014

Department of Agrarian Reform

Province of Agusan del Norte 4th quarter issue, October - December, 2014

Ang Opisyal nga Mantalaan Sa DAR Provincial Office - Agusan del Norte J. Rosales Avenue Butuan City; Tel./fax : (085) 341-3154; website: www.dar.gov.ph

Agrarian Coop and Farmer Beneficiary get national awards

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he Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office conferred on Ruben Ragas and the Baug CARP Beneficiaries MultiPurpose Cooperative (BCBMPC) of Agusan del Norte the prestigious awards as the Most Outstanding Agrarian Reform Beneficiary and Most Progressive Organization, respectively, during the DAR Annual Awards and Recognition program at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Management Convention Center in Quezon City last November 20, 2014.

The affair was held in conjunction with the celebration of the International Year of Family Farming.

awards/page 3 . . .

DAR Agusan Norte turns over P3.7 million project to farmer cooperative in Jabonga town

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he Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte provincial office recently turned-over the completed Post Harvest Facility (PHF) under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP-III) worth more than P3.7 million to Libas Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (LFMPC) with 115 farmer-beneficiaries in Barangay Libas of Jabonga town in Agusan del Norte last December 5, 2014.

During the ceremony, Jabonga Mayor Jasmin F. Monton and DAR Caraga Regional Director Faisar A. Mambuay with Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B. Atega, CESO V, cut the ceremonial ribbon and unveiled the project marker.

Hon. Mayor Monton expressed her message of gratitude to DAR Regional and Provincial Project Management Offices for the package of PHF/page 3 . . .

Baug CARP Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC) Chairperson Magdalina Tiu (center) and Manager Luxmi B. Auxilio display the Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (National Level) award as they pose with DAR Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong (2nd from left) and Agusan del Norte PARPO Andre B. Atega, CESO V, (extreme right) during the 2014 Annual Awards and Recognition in conjuction with the celebration of the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) held at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Convention Center, Quezon City, last November 24, 2014. Also in the photo are Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Planning, Project Dev’t. Orlan Calayag and IFAD Country Program Director Yolando Arban.

BCBMPC bags LBP’s ‘Gawad Pitak’ Award

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he Baug CARP Beneficiaries MultiPurpose Cooperative (BCPMPC) won the 24th Annual Ginintuang Gawad sa Pinkatanging Kooperatiba Award (Gawad Pitak 2014) during the recent Land Bank of the Philippines’ 51st Anniversary celebration at Land Bank Plaza in Malate, Manila.

BCBMPC general manager Luxmie Auxillo said the coop’s award this year was the most prestigious by topping the

contest in the agri-based category and winning P1million worth of fixed assets.

“This is another banner year of BCBMPC’s achievements. Last year, the coop validated its conferment of the Hall of Fame award and received P100,000 worth of fixed assets,” she added.

BCBMPC’s decade of growth, gave light to the lives of its members, inspired agrarian reform beneficiaries in Agusan del Norte to earn Gawad Pitak/page 2 . . .

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Gawad Pitak . . . from page 1

modest income and gave positive impact to the province’s farming community.

BCMPC is managed by farmers who are agrarian reform beneficiaries. It operates in different municipalities and extends its services to some areas in Caraga Region.•

Farmer-beneficiary Ruben Ragas of Sanghan Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte conferred as First Runner-up under the Ulirang Magsasaka category, for exemplary contribution to community development and in diversified system that promotes environmental protection during the recent Land Bank of the Philippines’ 51st Anniversary celebration at Land Bank Plaza in Malate, Manila. photo shows BCBMPC Chairperson Magdalina Tiu, along with some BCBMPC officers, receives the award. (from left) Cooperative Development Authority Chairman Emmanuel Santiaguel, Land Bank Agricultural and development lending sector Executive Vice President Cecilia Borromeo, Land Bank President and Chief Executive Gilda Pico, Rep. Cresente Paez, and Finance Secretary and Land Bank Chairman Cesar Purisima.

DAR Agusan Norte gears up personnel for cooperative training Some 25 personnel of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte provincial office underwent a five-day training workshop on Trainers’ Training on September 2-6, 2014 held at Benjamin Garden Resort here.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B. Atega, CESO V, said that the

training aimed to equip the participants with the most up-to-date knowledge and skills in conducting community development and capacity building ideas.

“This training will enable participants to become the most effective speaker on the subject assigned for a target class of participants,” PARPO II

Photo shows Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega, CESO V, discusses some qualities of a good trainer during the Trainers’ Training held on September 2-6, 2014 at Benjamin Garden Resort , Butuan City.

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Department of Agrarian Reform - Province of Agusan del Norte

(left-photo) Chairperson Magdalina Tiu, along with BCBMPC officers Mr. Jimmy Beray and Luxmi Auxilio, and (right-photo) Ruben Ragas with his wife Fe proudly displayed the award.

Atega added.

Romy Dahuyag, one of the resource speakers, told that the said training is part of continuous learning process of DAR personnel to strengthen their capacities to become an effective cooperative trainer.

The training drew interesting output that includes Skills in

Developing Training Needs Assessment; Preparing Training Modules; Demonstrate Training to Adults and Coaching and Mentoring.

The activity is in partnership with the DAR this province and Propegemus Foundation Inc., who unleashed the skills of DAR people to become an effective cooperative trainers. •

awards . . . from page 1

Provincial Agrarian Reform Project Officer Andre Atega commended Ragas and BCBMPC for “modeling” the success in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

“The two awardees are literal showcases of success in agrarian reform program implementation in the province,” he said.

BCBMPC is a story of grit and determination of 110 agrarian reform beneficiaries who struggled and rose from mere crab hunters to become bankers.

From a modest capital of P30,000, BCBMPC now has assets in the hundreds of millions and is expected to be one of the country’s billionaire cooperatives in the next five years.

A decade of what observers noted as “spectacular growth”, BCBMPC operates a bank-like system and provides financial consultancy and assistance to clients and borrowers including Ruben Ragas, an agrarian reform beneficiary.

BCBMPC has received many awards in recognition of its business achievements in the last five years including the Gawad sa PHF . . . from page 1 interventions that boosted economic condition not only on Libas Farmers MPC but also all farmers within the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in Jabonga.

“I encourage the LFMPC to take care of the project and make their business become commercially viable,” Hon. Mayor Monton added.

RD Mambuay in his message said that the municipality of Jabonga has been the recipients of worth millions of small-scale interventions such as farm-to-market road, irrigation system, agri-enterprise projects, and postharvest facility.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B. Atega witnessed the ceremony and congratulated the Municipal Local Government Unit of Jabonga as good project implementor.

Jabonga Municipal Engineer Engr.

Samuel S. Monoy said that the project has a floor area of 200 square meter consisted of five rooms, a comfort room, an office, fully furnished fixture and hardwood door and window frames, equipped with lighting and water system suitable for LFMPC’s proposed Coco Virgin Oil Processing

Photo shows Mr. Ruben M. Ragas and his wife, Mrs. Fe Ragas, with the Most Outstanding ARB Family (national level) award. Also in the photo are (from left) Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Planning, Project Dev’t. Orlan Calayag, Agusan del Norte PARPO Andre B. Atega, CESO V, DAR Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong and IFAD Country Program Director Yolando Arban.

Pinakatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad Pitak) in 2013, and conferred the Hall of Fame Award under the AgriBased category with P100,000 worth of fixed assets.

Ragas, a vegetable grower and farmer-entrepreneur of Sanghan, Plant.

LFMPC Chairman Elson P. Morada lauded DAR-ARISP III for another window of opportunity that addressed LFMPC business gap that lead to the expansion and deepening of the production of their Coco Virgin Oil business venture.

Cabadbaran City, was Gawad Saka 2013 Most Outstanding High Value Crop Category Regional Awardee during the 11th Annual Vegetable Congress and First Runner-up Ulirang Magsasaka Awardee last August 8, 2014. • The project is a jointly funded by government and by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) implemented under DAR’s Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project, Phase III (ARISP III) and the Municipal Local Government Unit of Jabonga.•

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!: DAR Agusan del Norte turns over the Post Harvest Facility (PHF) to Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LFMPC) worth P3.7 million jointly funded between the Department of Agrarian Reform under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (DAR-ARISP III) and the Municipality of Jabonga held at the Barangay Libas, Jabonga town last December 5, 2014. (left-to-right) Photo shows CARPO Antonio B. Miso, DAR Caraga Regional Director Faisar A. Mambuay, Jabonga Mayor Jasmin F. Monton, LFMPC Chairman Elson P. Morada, Prov’l. Agrarian Reform Program Officer II and ARISP III Project Manager Andre B. Atega, CESO V with ARISP III Assistant Project Manager Virginia F. Batosalem and some coop members and residence witnessed the said event.

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Stop, Look and See! . . . Hulagway Gallery . . .

October 02, 2014 I MC 04 Orientation, s. 2014 Zenaida Paloma explains the MC No. 04 guidelines while the DAR personnel attentively listened.

October 02, 2014 I 3rd Quarter LTS Assessment October 14, 2014 I Cacao Production MOA Signing and LAD Status Updating Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega, CESO V speaks before the LTS implementing team during the 3rd quarter LTS Assessment and LAD Status Updating at Balanghai Hotel.

Federation of Agrarian Reform Communities Cooperatives (FEDARCCO), Avancena Beneficiaries Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ABFMPC), and Cacao Nursery Management Group signed a Memorandum of Agreement last October 14, 2014.

October 16, 2014 I PARCCOM goes to Bukidnon witnessing Fresh Organic lettuce plantation Provincial Agrarian Reform Committe (PARCCOM) conducts a 3-day knowledge expedition at Bukidnon.

An opportunity to explore and expand their knowledge about how vegetable growers succeed in the field of agri-business.

November 21, 2014 I 3rd quarter ARC Review and Planning Session

PARPO II Andre B. Atega, CESO V, speaks to DAR employees and staff about the 2015 Thrust and Priorities.

One of which is the ARC strategy to intensify and accelerate ARBOs strengthening and capacity development towards a sustainable agri-enterprise.

November 06, 2014 I 14 Mandatory Training Photo shows one of the required fourteen mandatory trainings conducted this year aimed to strengthen ARB organizations and to refresh the cooperative leaders and officers. This year’s accomplished more than 6,400 ARBs trained from different agrarian reform communities in Agusan del norte that includes ARBs and non-ARBs.

November 20, 2014 I Records Management Course

Farmer Leaders from different agrarian reform communities organizations enrich their knowledge not only in farming techniques but also on strengthening their organizations to assure economic independence and self-reliance. This photo is part of DAR’s fourteen mandatory training conducted this year.

November 28, 2014 I DAR Personnel undertake Fire Prevention and Survival An employee of DAR -ADN Mary Ann Imbis quences the liquified petroluem gas during the fire drill conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection held at DARPO lobby.

November 28, 2014 I DAR Personnel undertake Earthquake Preparedness

Employees of DAR-ADN, with PDDRRMC and BFP, pose after an Earthquake and fire Drill in preparation of natural calamities. The two learning sessions geared towards the campaign of strengthening DAR personnel preparedness for man-made and natural calamities.

November 11, 2014 I Turn over Ceremony P3.7 Million Post-Harvest-Facility turns over to Libas Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (LFMPC). Photo shows DAR Caraga Regional Director Faisar A. Mambuay, Jabonga Mayor Jasmin F. Monton, LFMPC Chairman Elson P. Morada, Prov’l. Agrarian Reform Program Officer II and ARISP III Project Manager Andre B. Atega, CESO V. cut the ribbon during the ribbon cutting held at Libas, Jabonga town.

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December 12, 2014 I Trade Fair @ Robinsons PlaceBXU

DAR-ADN participates the Trade Fair of DTI at Robinsons Place. Farmer’s products from different agrarian reform communities in the province were displayed during the trade fair. Photo shows (from left) Luningning B. Ycoy and Bernadette L. Saliente with their excellent performance during the event.

Department of Agrarian Reform - Province of Agusan del Norte

December 21, 2014 I Farmers rally over CARP Extension

An estimated 4,000 farmers converge as they make their way along J. Rosales Aveneu to urge P-Noy and Congress to extend the implementation of the 27-year-old Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPer), which expired last 2014.

ARBs Corner: Success Story

Off-season Vegetable grower brings year-round prosperity

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uben Ragas, a vegetable farmer of Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran City was smashed and could not express himself when he received the 2014 Most Outstanding Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Family for Mindanao Award during the celebration of the International Year of Family Farming at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Center in Quezon City on November 24, 2014. The affair suddently hurled Ragas to fame.

Last August 8, 2014, Ragas was misty-eyed when the Land Bank of the Philippines conferred on him the “Ulirang Magsasaka” First Runner-up honors during the 24th Annual Gawad Pitak where he won P75,000 last August 8, 2014 at the Land Bank Plaza in Malate, Manila.

Last year, Ruben was Gawad Saka 2013 Most Outstanding Regional Awardee (High-Value Crop Category) during the 11th Annual Vegetable Congress.

From a simple vegetable farmer and family man, Ruben took the national recognitions in stride and used his cash prize to improve his two-hectare lot.

From vending vegetables to “suki” in Barangay Sanghan, he now sells his farm poduce to markets in Agusan del Norte and wholesale buyers in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Ruben is now a farmer-business entrepreneur.

Nong Ben, as fondly called by

neighbors, took to tilling the soil since he was a teenager. He has been known in Barangay Sanghan as a tireless farm worker whose sight is focused to the future.

Now 45, Ruben said he worked as a part-time helper at Sanchez Rice Mill in Cabadbaran City in the early 1990s.

Failing to finish college education, he said “life has been a struggle, working long hours with cheap wages, I had to forget schooling.”

In 1994, Ruben became a beneficiary of the Antonio Avanceña landholdings which was covered by the Department of Agrarian Reform’s land distribution program. DAR awarded him a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) for a two-hectare land in 1997.

According to Ruben, while owning a two-hectare land was a blessing, tending it by his own self required “immense effort and determination. Waking up at 4:00 o’clock in the morning to till the soil, plant vegetables and other crops, water them to survive the sun’s scorching heat, and prayers to protect them from bad weather, practically consumed my daily chores,” he said.

“DAR’s interventions in terms of farm inputs and financial assistance enabled me to survive and

drove me to push more,” Ruben said.

Ruben devised an integrated and diversified farming system by planting eggplants, ampalaya, tomatoes and pepper through intercropping with bananas, pomelos, durian and other fruit-bearing trees.

“Our best production came from eggplants, which we regularly harvested two times a week,” he said.

He also raised livestock, fowls and maintained a tilapia pond.

From an initial capital of P87,300, Ruben now earns P355,043 net income from eggplant production alone.

At a cost of P35,000, he planted 700 square meters of his land with tomatoes and made a gross income of P79,700 with a profit of P43,800.

Ruben’s four-year record as a vegetable farmer showed him earning P300,000 net income in 2010, P423,000 in 2011, P240,972 in 2012, and P354,770 in 2013.

Ruben shares his time to turn to page 6 >>>

I am one of the agrarian reform beneficiaries who value land from CARP program. I am really thankful to DAR for its continuing intervention.

In return, I am now their success story.

They are now proud of me as I am proud of being a farmer.

Ruben Ragas

Agrariran Reform Beneficiary Sanghan, Cabadbaran City TUBURAN PUBLICATION

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Department of Agrarian Reform - Province of Agusan del Norte

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DAR personnel

DAR personnel undergo seminar

on Climate Change P

ersonnel of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte provincial office attended awareness seminar on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management on Friday here.

“Personnel should be aware of the new normal – living with the effects of Climate Change in which we are now experiencing,” said DAR provincial agrarian reform program officer (PARPO) Andre B. Atega.

We should equip ourselves with the knowledge and be aware of what is Climate Change before going to our clients – the landowners, thus this activity is very appropriate, Atega said.

The event was also aimed to intensify the campaign on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation program of the Aquino administration.

Also, information officer Gil Miranda is very much thankful for the conduct of the seminar. “As an information officer, the seminar helps me in my information work, it provided us knowledge on what is climate change, what can we contribute in mitigating its effect and how to live with it normally,” Miran da said.

During the seminar, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Board Secretary Earl del Victoria, one of the resource speakers told the participants that “we are part in coming up with initiatives to counter what we are experiencing now – the effects of climate change. We should continue to protect our environment and enhance our productivity.”

It was learned that one of DAR’s important roles is mainstreaming the Climate Change in the Agrarian Reform Community Development Plans, through building partnership with the business sector, religious group and other stakeholders, gender mainstreaming and in providing appropriate support services for landowners.•

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ng DAR Logo nagpakita sa acronym sa departamento diin nag-representar sa institusyon ug sa tahas isip namunoan sa ahensya sa pag-implementar sa Komprehensibong Programa sa Repormang Pangkabukiran o Magbaba-ol kun (CARP). Ang kasanag sa adlaw mibusilak ngadto sa lunhaw nga umahan diin nabahin kini sa 12 (dose) ka pikas nga nagrepresentar sa orihinal nga dose ka mga rehiyon nga nahisakop sa maong programa. Ang Green o lunhawng kolor nag-representar sa kaabunda ug kamauswagon ug ang dalag kun yellow nag-representar sa paglaum ug bulawanon nga ani sa mga agrarian reform beneficiaries kinsa maoy mga tigdawat sa mga serbisyong gihatag sa Departamento sa DAR pinaagi sa CARP. Ang duruha ka mga color nag pasabot sa ekonomikanhong pag-uswag ug diha sa nag-ugong nga banikanhong kalambuan nga nakab-ot pinaagi sa agrarian reform.

MANDATO (MANDATE) Ang Departamento sa Repormang Agraryo namuno sa pag-implementar sa Komprehensibong Programa sa Repormang Pangkabukiran o Magbaba-ol kun (CARP) pinaagi sa pagbaton og kauswagan sa pangyuta, hustisya ug kaangayan, ug pag-koordinar sa pag-hatod sa mahinungdanon nga suportang serbisyo ngadto sa mga mag-uumang benepisyaryo.

TAHAS (MISSION) Mamunoan sa pagpatuman sa Repormang Agraryo ug sa paghatag sa malahutayong suporta diha sa banikanhong kalambuan pinaagi sa pagapod-apod sa kayutaan ug mga probisyon sa serbisyong pangkalambuan ngadto sa mga saop nga benepisyare, mag-uumang tigtikad og yuta, agalong mag–uugmad sa gagmay nga luna ug paghatod sa hustisyang agraryo.

PANLANTAW (VISION) Usa ka nasod nga adunay makiangayon nga pagpanag-iya sa yuta ug adunay katakos nga mga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries kinsa epektibo nga nagdumala sa ilang ekonomikanhon ug katilingbanon pangkalambuan para sa maarang-arang nga kalidad sa kinabuhi.

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Department of Agrarian Reform - Province of Agusan del Norte