Volume 18 No. 4
October - December 2020
4th Quarter
DAR Secretary leads distribution of land titles, projects in Region 9 “
DAR Secretary John Castriciones goes to Zamboanga del Sur where he leads the distribution of CLOAs and projects to the agrarian reform beneficiaries.
M
ABUHAY ANG mag-uuma!” exclaimed Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones during the grand event of distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award and turnover of various subprojects, farm inputs, and machineries to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Zamboanga Peninsula which was held at Pagadian City Function Hall last December 16, 2020. The DAR Secretary led the which will benefit 707 ARBs distribution of 720 land titles to from the three provinces. agrarian reform beneficiaries Projects amounting to a from Zamboanga del Sur, Zam- total of P65,950,392 were also boanga del Norte and Zambo- turned-over to agrarian reanga Sibugay. The titles cover form beneficiaries’ Continue on page 6 a total of 1,030 hectares of land
Serbisyong DAR to Door: Secretary Castriciones goes to Zamboanga del Sur, distributes land titles NINE AGRARIAN reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the town of Molave in Zamboanga del Sur were overflowed with joy as DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones goes right at their doorstep to personally hand over their land titles last December 17. In a move to bring the government closer to the people, the project coined “Serbisyong DAR-to-DOOR” through the initiative of Secretary Castriciones has been a success
since its inception on July 1, 2020. “We have been waiting for so long to have our own titles and now that it’s here, we promise to further develop our lands because this is the only legacy that our children could inherit,” said Fausto Calderon, one of the ARBs who received the titles. Secretary Castriciones was joined by Undersecretary Atty. Emily O. Padilla, Continue on page 2
DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones (3rd from left) leads the houseto-house distribution of land titles to Zamboanga del Sur farmers.
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October - December 2020
Assistant Regional Director Agnes Y. Maata (center, seated) along with PARPO II Arturo N. Soria (seated, third from left) with the Board of Directors of SVARBMECO and other stakeholders.
ConVERGE-Supported Cooperative signs MOA with DAR on Production Capitalization Fund THE SIARI VALLEY Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (SVARBEMCO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Agrarian Reform under Project ConVERGE for the Production Capitalization Fund (PCF). The historic signing took place at the SVARBEMCO Compound in Barangay Bago, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte on December 28, 2020. The Production Capitalization Fund (PCF) is an agricultural input loan program for the rubber farmers in the
Zamboanga del Norte Resettlement Agrarian Reform Community Cluster. This is another initiative of Project ConVERGE which partners with the Siari Valley Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (SVARBEMCO) as financing conduit in its implementation. The SVARBEMCO was represented by its chairman, Mr. Flaviano T. Hilay. “The Production Capitalization Fund (PCF) aims to increase your production to eventually increase your income”, these were the motivating words of
DARRO IX Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Engr. Agnes Y. Maata. PARPO II Arturo N. Soria encouraged the chairmen of the other cooperatives under Project ConVERGE to emulate the commitment and dedication of the SVARBEMCO management so they too will succeed in their respective rubber enterprises. The key officers of the six (6) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBO) under the project were present to manifest their full support for the program. Also present
during the activity were Engr. Florenda S. Depamaylo, OIC Chief of the Support Services Division of DAR IX; Engr. Alfonso A. Tan, Chief of Support Services Division of DAR Zamboanga del Norte; Mr. Leonardo R. Ablao, Regional Value Chain Specialiast; the Board of Directors of SVARBEMCO; other Project ConVERGE Specialists from DARRO IX; provincial coordinators; members of the Cluster Project Operations Team; the Board of Directors of SVARBEMCO and other stakeholders.
Serbisyong DAR to Door: Secretary Castriciones goes to Zamboanga del Sur, distributes land titles Continued from page 1 Undersecretary Virginia N. Oro-
go, DAR Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Director Ramon E. Madroñal
Jr., officials from the local government unit of Zamboanga del Sur, officials
and staff from DAR Zamboanga Peninsula regional and provincial offices.
October - December 2020
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Multi-purpose coop in Zambo del Norte bids goodbye to manual reporting, introduced to ConVERGE’s financial management system FOR THE longest time, business had been usual, ordinary, and difficult for CATAMCO, a business enterprise that focuses on rubber plantation. Staff and employees would work every day in the cooperative with manual and traditional systems in place to do documentary tasks such as transaction of reports, computation, and profiling. This was a typical scene for the The Cabong Tampilisan Multi-purpose Cooperative (CATAMCO), an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte. “Mano-mano jud siya na trabaho. Dili paspas ang trabaho kay dili man mawala na naay masayop. Mag compute pa, maong dugay jud gakahuman,” (It’s really manual work. We cannot avoid making mistakes, that’s why work is not that fast. We still have to compute which caused delays,) said CATAMCO Book-keeper Jereme Adiman. CATAMCO’s financial system preparations over the years were a struggle, according to their Finance Officer, Marife Antivo. Their previous transactions were done manually which caused hindrance for better transactions as time went on. Locating and retrieving papers were troublesome for the staff and employees, too. According to Marife, they would have to go from one office to another to find and retrieve papers, because some papers are with the secretary, while some are with the treasurer. “Mahirap talaga,” (It is really difficult) she said. Saying goodbyes to handwritten records To help the staff and employees get around their job better and more efficiently, the cooperative partnered with Project ConVERGE, a six-year project implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), funded by the Philippine government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Project ConVERGE’s goal is to optimize, scale up, and sustain the gains of the agrarian reform program by supporting the services of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), which includes women and indigenous people. CATAMCO is one of the many beneficiaries of ConVERGE. Project ConVERGE introduced the Financial and Inventory Management System (FIMS), which aims to help expedite the generation of financial reports, and help provide convenience in project monitoring to CATAMCO and its staff and members. “It will definitely help in the reliability, completeness, and timeliness
of their financial reports, which are big factors to efficient and effective decision making of the organization,” said Engr. Alfonso Tan, Project ConVERGE Zamboanga del Norte’s Project Coordinator. FIMS consists of a customized accounting system and a Capital Build Up (CBU) system that will aid and benefit CATAMCO to have financial and other reports generated in the system. These documents are relevant for monitoring and the decision making of the coop management. Aside from that, the system offers smooth transactions where recording, storing, and retrieving files was made easier. Last Sept. 3, CATAMCO finally said their goodbyes to handwritten records and warmly greeted their newly adopted financial information system provided by Project ConVERGE. Fortunately, there were no complications as to adapting to the new system or even navigating through it. ConVERGE, with the help of DAR and its partnership with TESDA, conducted a Basic Computer Training Program for the staff of CATAMCO who will be managing the FIMS. “Hindi hesitant pero nasa agam-agam namin papaano namin gagamitin yun,” (We are not hesitant but we are having second thoughts as to how we are going to use it.) Adiman explained how their eagerness to learn the newly adopted system was a big help for them to adapt to it. An initiative to make farmers’ lives easier Partof ConVERGE’s initiative is to conduct such training and capacity-building programs to farmers, and other ARBs,, to further develop and strengthen their marketing strategies. This will not only benefit the ARBs and their organizations, but almost all the clusters covered by the project. According to Marife, their life is easier now with FIMS. She says that the financial management system has really been much of a help to the cooperative and its staff and employees have enjoyed the benefits that come with the newly adopted system. Increase of work rate efficiency can be clearly observed as they have already encoded half of 536 members in the FIMS machine. “Isang click mo lang sa computer, andyan na,” (With just one click in the computer, it is already there.) she added. The coop is looking forward to fully utilizing the database system by January. However, factors such as the PCF, hauling truck, and the circumstances brought about by this pandemic serve as a hindrance to fully utilizing the system. “With or without COVID, kung naa na ang PCF ug naa na ang hauling truck, pwede na
CATAMCO goes digital with the introduction of Financial Management System. sila. Para safe, mga January next year,” (With or without COVID, if the PCF and hauling truck is already there, they can start utilizing the system. To be safe, they can have it in January, next year.) Engr. Alfonso A. Tan, Zamboanga del Norte’s PPMO’s Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) stated. More than efficiency, FIMS provides transparency Aside from providing convenience to the monitoring and management of financial reports and transactions of the coop, FIMS also promotes transparency among all its members. Once the coopfully utilizes the new system, Engr. Tan believes that it will achieve the transparency and accountability he had hoped for in the organization. “Kadungog mo adtong sa una na naay nag withdraw na confrontador, unya iyang gipamalit ang kwarta. Human dayon ang sobra, wala na mo balik?” (Have you heard about the confrontador who withdrew money and used it to buy something? After that, the extra money wasn’t returned.) Engr. Tan recalled how their coop was handling without FIMS. “Dili nato mahitabo. Mao na ang dako kaayong benefits of having a database system,” (It won’t happen again. That is the major benefit of having a database system.) he added. In addition, the system can potentially attract and influence other people to join and be a part of their coop. Once a member, they receive all the benefits that come with the FIMS. “May transparency yung organization. Kasi diba yun yung ultimate goal ng lahat is yung integrity ng isang organization., (There is transparency in the organization. Since the main goal of everyone is to have integrity in an
organization.) said Pamela Joy Nandu, Regional Gender and Development Specialist. For the next step of this project, Engr. Tan ensured that the operationalized schedule of delivery will be institutionalized. He emphasized that staff training and feedbacking will be the important factors to closely monitor the sustainability and maintenance of the marketing in FIMS. He has also reminded his staff that their cooperation with the officers is important. “Kay no matter how often or how quick ka mag train sa ilaha, kung sila mismo na receiver dli nila iinternalize, laid back attitude, walay commitment, and dedication, useless gihapon,” (No matter how often or how quick we train them, if the receiver will not internalize, has the laid-back attitude, no commitment and dedication, all will be useless.) he stressed. Project ConVERGE has helped set the foundation for CATAMCO to ensure that the flow of financial and other reports will be smooth and better for the staff. “Importante karon, we are pushing the wheel. Once the wheel moves, di na na mo stop,” (What’s important now is that we are pushing the wheel. Once it moves, it won’t stop.) Engr. Tan stated what it is like having the system as part of the cooperative. With FIMS introduced, CATAMCO will be able to fully utilize the management system which will change the way the business operates. Manual transaction of reports, computation, and profiling will be fully automated. Work is made easier now with FIMS installed to help and aid with their business enterprise.
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PICTO
Site Inspection on Government Owned Lands “Pagkain ng Bayan” at Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte on December 3, 2020 The inspection was conducted by the DAR Regional Director Atty. Ramon E. Madroñal Jr. together with Assistant Regional Director Engr. Agnes Y. Maata, and guided by PARPO II Arturo N. Soria and MARPO Teodulo Yanoyan Jr. along with several DAR employees and staff.
DAR Zamboanga del Sur delivers services to the Daplayan Water System and Sanitation Association in the vided with Hammer Mill as support to their growing livelihood project (swine production) under DAR-C need for post-h
Project ConVERGE Zamboanga Sibugay conducted a contract signing of the construction of its lead ARBO’s multi-purpose building / warehouse. The signing of contract with Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Multi-Purpose Cooperative was conducted on November 3. The project ground breaking for the construction of the warehouse commenced on November 9.
The Department of Agrarian Reform headed by Secretary John R. Castriciones held a press conference wit issues raised was the merging of DAR with the Department of Agriculture wherein accordi
ORIALS
October - December 2020
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Department of Agrarian Reform in Zamboanga del Norte headed by PARPO II Arturo N. Soria together with all the Division chiefs were interviewed by Editha Pagente Tomong, host of ‘Kapihan sa Dipolog’ at Camila 1 in Dipolog City on December 20, 2020. The interview tackled mainly on the 2020 programs and accomplishments of DAR focusing on the different interventions amid the COVID-19 pandemic in uplifting the livelihood of poor farmers in Zamboanga del Norte.
e town of San Pablo. Under the DAR CRFPSP, Daplayan Water System and Sanitation Association was proCLAAP. DAWASA was also provided under CRF, corn sheller project earlier this quarter to respond to their harvest facility.
th the Zamboanga del Sur Tri-Media at the Pagadian City Function Hall on December 16, 2020. One of the ing to him there are still many tasks and functions that are yet to be accomplished by DAR.
Two Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) partnered up with Project ConVERGE for the Production Capitalization Fund (PCF) program — a farming input loan program to aid farmers in the Salipyasin cluster with their rubber production. DAR Project ConVERGE signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Makilas Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMPC) and the Rural Bank of Rizal Inc. (RBR, Inc) on December 21, 2020. The signing was headed by Assistant Regional Director Agnes Maata and PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju.
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October - December 2020
DAR turns over FMR, farm machinery to coops in Sibugay THE TAMBANAN Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TARBEMCO) in Zamboanga Sibugay received a 1.5 kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) from the Department of Agrarian Reform during the turn-over of projects led by Secretary John R. Castriciones last December 16 in Pagadian City. The official turn-over of the project was conducted in Barangay Tambanan, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay on December 21 through a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Assistant Regional Director for Operations Agnes Y. Maata and representatives from the
local government unit (LGU) of Zamboanga Sibugay. The rubber cluster was given a 1.5 kilometer FMR from the national highway to Barangay Tambanan. A hauling truck for rubber lumps was also included during the official turn-over ceremony where the Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO) was the recipient cooperative. The FMR costs P11.2 million while the hauling truck costs P2.5 million which were sourced out from DAR-IFAD, Project ConVERGE, and the LGU of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay. These will service more
Assistant Regional Director for Operations Agnes Y. Maata (first from right) with PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju (first from left) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the farm-to-market road project than 800 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and non-ARBs in transporting their rubber produce to the market. Personnel from the Project
ConVERGE regional and provincial offices as well as officials from the local government unit were present in the event.
DAR Secretary leads distribution of land titles, projects in Region 9 Continued from page 1
organization and agrarian reform communities which include farm implements and farm machineries which will benefit a total of 21,742 ARBs from the region. These include the sub-projects which were sourced out from the five programs of DAR namely; Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE), Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project (CLAAP), Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP), Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED)
and Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). Likewise, certificates of full payment on land amortization where also awarded to 336 ARBs. These support services were given to aid the beneficiaries in their farming activities. Atty. Emily Padilla, Undersecretary for the Support Services Office, emphasized that their goal is to reach out to the farmers in the field and provide them the support they needed. “Ang pinaka importante para sa isang lider ay ang magkaroon ng malasakit sa kapwa nilang tao.” (The important part of being a leader is to have compassion for others), Usec. Padilla said during
her remarks. Not only were the support given to aid these farmers in their farms, but it was also to encourage them to produce high quality products now that various farm inputs and equipments were turned-over. Virginia Orogo, Undersecretary for Policy Planning and Research Office, expressed her excitement in the possibility of having Zamboanga’s produce be on par with the international market. “Meron po tayong pag-asa para ma-promote ang ating mga de kelidad na produkto sa buong pilipinas at buong mundo. (We have hope that Zamboanga’s high quality products can be promoted nationwide
and worldwide),” she said. DAR 9 Regional Director expressed his gratitude to Secretary Castriciones who came all the way to Region 9 to personally turn over the land titles and projects to the farmer beneficiaries. The ceremonial distribution was also attended by Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co, Zamboanga del Sur 1st District Representative Congresswomen Divine Grace C. Yu, Zamboanga del Sur 2nd District Representative Congressman Leonardo L. Babasa Jr., officials from CARP implementing line agencies and other DAR 9 regional and provincial officials and staff.
October - December 2020
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P10.5-M Farm-to-Market road turned over by DAR through Project ConVERGE THE PROVINCIAL office of Department of Agrarian Reform in Zamboanga del Norte through Project ConVERGE, together with the local government unit (LGU) of Tampilisan, conducted the inauguration and turnover of 3.66 kilometers farm-to-market road between Barangay Cabong and Barangay Tiningaan in the municipality of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte last December 10. Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Arturo N. Soria was joined by Tampilisan Mayor Angeles Carloto II in turning over the key of responsibility to the Barangay Captains of the two recipient barangays. The infrastructure project is the first phase of its implementation which covers
the rehabilitation of the road. The second phase, which aims to concretize the farm-to-market road, is due next year. Barangay Chairperson Renato Ruales of Cabong expressed his gratitude to Project CONVERGE and the Tampilisan LGU for pursuing the construction. “Ang among responsibilidad, isip lider sa barangay, mao ang pag atiman ug mintinar sa maong dalana. Among siguraduon na kauban sa lumulupyo sa Barangay Cabong, ma-atiman namo ang FMR,” (My responsibility as barangay leader is to ensure the maintenance of the farm-to-market road project. Together with the residents of our barangay, I can assure you that this project will be taken care of ) Ruales said. “Now that the government
PARPO II Arturo N. Soria (second from left) holds the key of responsibility to be handed over to the recipient barangay captains
and the project have provided you this road, my hope is that each of you take part in the maintenance. That is an equally important duty that you have for you and your community,” Mayor Angeles Carloto III said.
The FMR has a total project cost of P10.5 million which was sourced out from DAR-IFAD Project ConVERGE fund with counterpart from the LGU of Tampilisan. The second phase is estimated to reach P21.6million in total.
DAR-DSWD project turned over in Sibugay province ceived a rice trading project under the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARBs Project (CLAAP) last November 24. The project includes 449 sacks of rice amounting to P406,910 which will benefit 30 agrarian reform beneficiaries. The rice trading enterprise is a joint-project between the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which aims to provide additional livelihood enterprise and to Agrarian reform beneficiaries of USCOMPC enter a rice trading increase household income of enterprise under CLAAP through DAR-DSWD the beneficiaries. Mohammad Dassan Adju, AGRARIAN REFORM Benefi- long Community Multi-Purpose ciaries (ARBs) from the Maa- Cooperative (USCOMPC) in Provincial Agrarian Reform bi-abihon Cluster, Upper Sumi- Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay re- Program Officer II of DAR Zam-
boanga Sibugay, said that he has high hopes and believes that this project will indeed be a success for the organization since the local government unit through Mayor Jopher H. Mendoza is very supportive of all DAR projects. Mayor Mendoza in return is thankful for the inclusion of their farmer beneficiaries in the department’s projects. The distribution was also graced by COA Auditor Rene Mangona and Regional point-person Luz Gunot along with the Chief of the Support Services Division Anthony Teves, MARPO Janeth Aranas and other DAR personnel.
Volume 18 No. 4
October - December 2020
DAR Secretary heads ConVERGE turnover, agricultural promotions sought
P
ROJECT CONVERGE recently had its newest set of sub-projects and machineries turned over to its beneficiaries headed by DAR Secretary John Castriciones on December 16, 2020 in Zamboanga del Sur. Top officials from the regional and provincial offices of the agency and the project, as well as local government unit leaders, witnessed the official turnover of a multi-purpose warehouse and a delivery truck to one of ConVERGE’s Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) - the Campo IV Agrarian Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (CIVCABEFAMCO) in Ramon Magsaysay town. The warehouse construction and delivery truck cost around P1.2 million each. The event was done through a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, ribbon-cutting, and handing of the key of responsibility to the ARBO Chairman Francisco Maribong and Manager Rosevilla Salceda. “We are very thankful for DAR, Project ConVERGE, and our Secretary John Castriciones for the passion to reach out to our farmers,” Salceda said during her appreciation message. “Your department has showered us with the aid and compassion that could be felt by everyone.” Hope in farming: aiming to make the agricultural sector great Meanwhile, Secretary Castriciones emphasized DAR’s objective to further improve and promote agriculture to the citizens. “One of the weakest sectors in the country is the agricultural sector. DAR’s objective is to make our country an industrialized one. That is why we roam to send a message to our farmers: that there really is hope in farming.” He also expressed his gratitude towards the farmers who continued to work in the field tirelessly amid the pandemic. “Our farmers are the real heroes — you never stopped working
4th Quarter
EDITORIAL STAFF Editors-in-Chief
GLORIA M. SARACHO MA. SOCORRO C. REAMBONANZA
Contributing Editors
CYRINE PALMA JASMINE B. ALIM MAY CHRISTINE V. BOMEZ LEILANI VIC S. VALDEZ APRIL BALASUELA JULLIENNE TUAZON KATRIN ANN ARCALA FLOR ANN BERNAS RYLLE ADRIANE GALVEZ DAR 9 Regional Director Atty. Ramon E. Madroñal, Jr. joins DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones in the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the delivery truck to be turned over to CIVCABEFAMCO to put food on the table for everyone else in the country amid the pandemic.” With that, Secretary Castriciones conveyed DAR’s plans to further uplift the lives of the farmers by introducing new agricultural programs and to further entice the young generation to take up agriculture. “Paunlarin natin ang pamumuhay ng ating mga magsasaka. (Let us improve the lives of our farmers [through these programs]),” he said. Castriciones was accompanied by Usec Virginia Orogo and Usec Emily Padilla. Support to farmers, challenges ahead At the same time ConVERGE National Project Director Faisar Mambuay graced the event. Regional Director Ramon Madroñal, Jr. and Assistant Regional Director for Operations Agnes Maata also assisted in the turnover. The project officials also gave their words of appreciation and wisdom to the Department and to the project beneficiaries. RD Madroñal expressed his gratitude for the support of Secretary Castriciones and his undersecretaries, and for the cooperation of the local government units in providing high quality equipment for its beneficiaries. “The hard work
of our dear Secretary Castriciones and his team is apparent in their service. Thank you for reaching these areas of Region 9 with us,” he said. ARDO Maata emphasized the responsibilities of the ARBOs to utilize the equipment received. “ConVERGE and DAR will be more than happy to see these support services that were provided be put to good use by our beneficiaries, since that is the reason we provided it in the first place. Now, our ARBOs have the responsibility to ensure the maintenance of the delivery truck and the warehouse,” she said. Meanwhile, NPD Mambuay focused his message on the unforeseen challenges of the farmers and how it could be overcome by treasuring the technical assistance received. “Challenges in our livelihood is always a given for us,” he said. “That is why various agricultural trainings have been given to our beneficiaries for all of you to be ready for the challenges to come. These will, in turn, strengthen the ARBO itself. The trainings should be taken to heart as it will help us in the long run,” he added. Provincial Governor Victor Yu, Deputy Speaker Divina Grace Yu, Municipal Mayor Leonilo Borinaga Sr. and other officials from
Editorial Consultants ATTY. RAMON E. MADROÑAL JR. Regional Director ATTY. RAMON E. MADROÑAL, JR. ARD for ADMIN. & Legal Services ENGR. AGNES Y. MAATA, CESO IV ARD for LTS/TASS For inquiries, please write or call the DAR Regional Office IX, Veterans Avenue Extension, Zamboanga Telephone No. (062) 955-2155 Email add: dar_reg9@yahoo.com the local government unit of Zamboanga del Sur were present. Governor Yu expressed his gratitude to DAR and ConVERGE for aiding the beneficiaries and also vowed to provide further assistance to the agricultural sector. “There are many challenges ahead of us, but the government aims to fully support our farmers. Together, we can work and solve said challenges to improve our city and country,” he said.