DAR-IX Chronicles (October-December 2021)

Volume 19 No. 4

October - December 2021

4th Quarter

DARRO 09 Hurdles ISO:90012015 and gets Certified

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AR Regional Office 09 finally acquired its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certification from the TUVNord Philippines on December 28 via remote audit.

DAR IX Regional Director the ARBs and other clients were Atty. Ramon E. Madroñal, Jr. enhanced and improved as we said the officials and employ- provide quality services. It also ees of the agency were thrilled means that DARRO 09 mainto pass the 2015 version of the tains a system that meets ISO ISO 9001 QMS on its first try 9001:2015 requirements.

The QMS will help the eneven with the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic . tire organization in the delivery The certification is anoth- of quality services. To attain the er milestone for the office and best quality of service for its Continue on page 3 shows that DAR’s service to

RD Ramon E. Madroñal, Jr., ARD Agnes Maata and ARD Arturo Soria, division chiefs and DARRO 09 staff are so thrilled and excited during the announcement that DARRO 09 is now an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certified.

Oathtaking Ceremony of newly hired and promoted DAR Employees DAR-Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Director Ramon E. Madroñal, Jr. delivers his message during the oath-taking ce remony of the 27 DAR personnel in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The Department of Agrarian Reform IX (DAR IX) held a successive oathtaking ceremonies regionwide at Sibugay Interna-

tional Hotel, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on December 1 at Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City Continue on page 4

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Agrarian Reform Chronicles

October - December 2021

IFAD Notes Significant Improvement in Project ConVERGE Implementation of the SIS Mission field visit on to-market road amounting to more than P24 million was also November 11.

The visit was headed by IFAD turned over to its beneficiaries, Programme Director Jerry Pac- along with the signing of susturan, DAR Assistant Project tainability MOAs. IFAD Director Pacturan Director Agnes Maata and Provincial Project Director Judith congratulated all the benefiMantos along with the officers ciaries who have received the of the Campo IV CARB Benefi- project-supported inputs and ciaries and Farmers Multi-Pur- encouraged them to maximize pose Cooperative (CIVCABE- its use. “We hope that you could FAMCO) in Ramon Magsaysay be able to make the most out of and Gabunon Agrarian Reform the equipment for an improved Beneficiaries Cooperative (GAR- production from your ARBO, and that this could be used and BENCO).

A Recirculating Batch Me- taken cared of for the next years chanical Dryer amounting to to come so that it could benefit approximately P1.4 million was the next generation,” he said. turned over to the CIVCABEAssistant Regional DirecFAMCO, and the completed tor Agnes Y. Maata expressed IFAD Country Program Officer Jing Pacturan speaks to the members of the construction of the multi-pur- her high hopes for the farmers recipient ARBOs on the significance of IFAD’s investments and intervenpose building/warehouse worth with the equipment. “We hope tions in relation to the overall growth of the farming sector in the region.

P1.2 million was turned over to that this could fully operationalize our ARBOs in their proThe International Fund for Ag- in terms of implementation and GARBENCO. Meanwhile, the 2.16-km duction and their enterprise,” ricultural Development (IFAD) outreach based on the presencommended the notable im- tation of the project’s status and Gabunon to Alang-Alang farm- Maata said. provement of the Convergence updates.

The kick-off meeting was folon Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empow- lowed by a series of virtual meeterment (ConVERGE) Project ings on the project’s different during the Supervision and sectors, along with the virtual Implementation Support (SIS) presentation of the progress and Mission conducted on Novem- status of its three Regional Project Management Offices. ber 8-22.

Among the objectives of Part of the SIS Mission’s acthe mission were to review tivities are the conduct of field the project’s performance and visits across the three regions, progress, assess constraints, aiming to verify and assess the initial impacts and institution- project’s outputs and its impact al and implementation agree- to beneficiaries in the actual ments and procedures. setting.

Led by IFAD Country DiIn Region 9, various equiprector Alessandro Marini, the ment and a farm-to-market SIS Mission commenced with road (FMR) amounting to apa virtual kick-off meeting on proximately P27.5 million have November 8. According to Di- been turned-over to beneficiarector Marini, there were major ries in the Salug Valley Cluster ARD Agnes Maata during her message to the LGU and ARBO recipients of the various interventions from Project ConVERGE. improvements in ConVERGE in Zamboanga del Sur as part

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October - December 2021

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The 37 farmer graduates from DAR’s Farm Business School (FBS) in Zamboanga Sibugay.

37 Zamboanga Sibugay farmers graduate from DAR’s Farm Business School A total of 37 farmer-members from Tomitom Small Rubber Farmers Association, an agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization (ARBO) being assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform, became farmer-entrepreneurs as they graduated from the Farm Business School (FBS) of the DAR in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Mohammad Dassan

Adju said that it has always been the objective of DAR to look after the needs of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). We ought to provide them with trainings and agricultural inputs. Now with the FBS, we are not only helping them with their farm production, but we also trained them on various entrepreneurial skills and advanced farming practices so they can properly manage their produce as they go out in the market.

“One of the goals of the FBS is to develop the true heroes of our country to become agricultural entrepreneurs. This is a way to promote farming as one form of business where ARBs could draw big earnings,” PARO Adju said.

Mary Jane Butalid, one of the graduates from Tomitom, Zamboanga Sibugay, expressed her gratitude to the DAR for the FBS program. “We are so fortunate to have undergone this FBS

program because we were able to learn how to develop a good plan, manage farm records, and learn how to become successful entrepreneurs. And for these, I am so grateful to DAR,” she said.

The ceremony was also graced by PARPO I Lorna Salera, Ipil Mayor Hon. Anamel Olegario, Barangay Captain Ma. Elsie Bolodo, MARPO Noemi G. Ampong and some DAR personnel.

DARRO 09 Hurdles ISO:90012015 and gets Certified Continued from page 1

clients, the region established interactive systems and processes, that are customer-focused, conform to the ISO Standards, and compliant to all

statutory, mandatory, and regulatory laws. It covers services related to Land Tenure Security Program (LTSP), the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program

(ARBDSP), Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD), and the Support to Operations Division (STOD).

RD Madroñal, together with ARD Agnes Maata and ARD Arturo Soria challenged the em-

ployees to continue providing more improved services to our clienteles to be able to maintain being a certified ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) organization.

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October - December 2021

DAR joins launching of the Balik Probinsya Balik Pag-Asa (BP2) Program The Department of Agrarian Reform joined the provincial government in welcoming 19 family beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa (BP2) program to the Province of Zamboanga del Norte in an arrival ceremony held at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Sports Center in Dipolog City on December 2324.

PARPO II Rizzel B. Villanueva represented DARRO 9 Regional Director, Atty. Ramon E. Madroñal, Jr., in the activity. Villanueva presented the agency’s proposal of livelihood support for the beneficiaries of the program.

The proposed assistance is the establishment of egg production (200 heads chicken ready to lay eggs) with a total project cost of P330,000 under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP) of the DAR. The recommended location will be at Sitio Munob, Barangay Daniel Maing, Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte.

PARPO Rizzel Villanueva together with Assistant Regional Director Ronald Gadot of the Land Management Services (LMS), DENR and DAR Legal Chief, Atty. Leo Briones during the launching of the Balik Probinsya Balik Pag-asa Program at Zamboanga del Norte Convention Center in Dipolog City.

Tentatively, this project shall be scheduled for implementation on the second quarter of 2022.

The BP2 program encourages people, especially informal settlers in highly urbanized cities, to return to their home provinces

and assist them in this transition with support and incentives on transportation, livelihood, housing, subsistence and education among others. Apart from the Department of Agrarian Reform, this program is a convergence of other

national government agencies like the NHA, DSWD, DA, DTI, DILG, TESDA, DOST, DOLE, DENR, and spearheaded by the Local Government Unit of Zamboanga del Norte and of the Municipality of Kalawit.

Oathtaking Ceremony of newly hired and promoted DAR Employees 6 are from the Regional Office. on December 3, Four The newly-hired and promoted Queens Hotel in Pagadian City employees will help the departon December 6 and Grand As- ment in the intensified impletoria Hotel on December 29 mentation of the Agrarian Rerespectively. form Program (CARP).

RD Madroñal said the perRegional Director Atty. Ramon E. Madroal, Jr. sworn in sonnel were carefully selecta total of 61 newly-hired and ed for their positions based promoted DAR employees. on their skills, dedication, and Of the total, 27 are from Zam- passion to serve the public. boanga Sibugay; 23 are from “Congratulations to all of you.

Zamboanga del Norte; 15 are We expect that you will double from Zamboanga del Sur; and your effort to help us in pursuContinued from page 1

ing the mandate of providing land tenure services, delivery of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ development and sustainability and implementation of social justice program,” he said.

Madroñal also re-echoed to the newly-promoted personnel what DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz said that effective public service is not from education but through heart and dedication.

The momentous events

were also attended by Assistant Regional Director for Operations Engr. Agnes Y. Maata, DAR Regional Adjudicator Atty. Jessica T. Agagon, Assistant Regional Director for Administration Arturo N. Soria, PARPO Moh. Dassan Adju of Zamboanga Sibugay, PARPO Rizzel Villanueva of Zamboanga del Norte and PARPO Judith Mantos of Zamboanga del Sur, division chiefs, personnel officers and staff.

October - December 2021

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Farmers of the Laicor Fishpond Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAFIMCO) expressed happiness as the DAR formally turns over the food processing facility.

DAR turns over food processing center in Zambo Sur Farmers belonging to the Laicor Fishpond Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAFIMCO) in the town of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur received a food processing facility worth P800,000 from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Implemented through the department’s Linking Smallholder Farmers to the Market or LinksFARM Project, the provision of the food processing facility will benefit 120 farmers responsible for the cultivation of 1,000 hectares in the area.

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Judith Mantos said that aside from the construction of the facility, the cooperative also received a freezer, steel tables, weighing scales, sealers, and fishnets.

“Aside from farming, farmers in Barangay Balas, here in Aurora rely on fishing for additional income. They culture tilapia for their “tilapia crunch” product which they sell in public markets,” Mantos said.

Through LinksFARM, the farmers of LAFIMCO were taught how to culture tilapia, shrimps, and crabs and turn

them into ready-to-eat crispy, crunchy treats.

Mantos said Barangay Balas is underdeveloped with rough roads and is very far from the market center. The place is surrounded by a very large pond which makes it hard for residents and other town folks to trade and do business with.

“People here are isolated by the vast pond. You need to ride a motorized boat for around 35-45 mins before you can reach Barangay Balas, where the food processing facility is located. That is why this processing facility will be a great

help to them. They now have additional income for their families,” Mantos said.

Under the LinksFARM Project, the farmers of LAFIMCO are being helped by the DAR in linking them to buyers of their crunchy treats.

“At present, most of their buyers come from the public markets. They also have orders from the local government unit of Aurora and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). We are working now to link them to institutional buyers for their product,” Mantos said.

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October - December 2021

DAR Zamboanga Sibugay Mobilizes Farmers Livelihood With Over P1.5-M Aid The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial Office of Zamboanga Sibugay headed by PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju turned over one unit of delivery truck under the Linking Smallholder Farmers to Market with Microfinance (LinkSFarMM) project on November 11 amounting to P598,000 to its lead Agrarian Reform Program Beneficiaries Organization in the municipality of Olutanga, the JR Garcia Cooperative.

The delivery truck shall aid a total of 164 agrarian reform beneficiaries with their banana products from farm production to the market with ease ensuring support and sustainability in their livelihood.

Meanwhile, another P998,000 worth of hauling truck was also turned over to the Kauswagan Integrated Farmers and Service Association in the municipality of Mabuhay for their copra products under Major CropBased Support of the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program where 237 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) will be benefitted.

PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju said that all of DAR’s projects has the same goal and that is to find ways and means to support the livelihood of all its ARBs not just in agricultural production but also in marketing their products.

“The government through DAR

PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju turns over one delivery truck amounting to P598,000.00 under the LinksFarMM Project to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries organization, JR Garcia Cooperative, of Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay on November 11, 2021. does not stop at looking for ways and means in supporting you with your land and the agricultural products you put into it but also on how to successfully earn from your hard work in tilling your land. What you can promise us in the Department is that you con-

tinuously work hard and do not allow any challenges like this pandemic that we are facing to demotivate you,” he said.

He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the partner Local Government Units (LGUs) for the support that

ZDS Bags 2nd Place Nationwide for Highest Sales of ARBO’s Products DAR Zamboanga del Sur bagged the second place in the ranking of sales of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’

Organizations (ARBOs) nationwide with marketing assistance under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). With accumulated sales of P71 million from January to November this year, the eight DAR Zamboanga del Sur-assisted ARBOs bested other provinces during the National Year-End Assessment held on December 3.

PARPO II Atty. Judith Patriarca-Mantos commended the ARBDSP Team led by CARPO for PBDD, Engr.

Josephine Sisican, and the eight AR-

BOs with forged marketing agreements to institutional buyers (in and out of the province). She lauded the massive leap from ranking ninth in 2020 to placing second this year.

Successful contributors in the overall-ranking of DAR Zamboanga del Sur were ARBOs: ARBUMAFCO in Mahayag, MLBC ARBCo in Josefina, MARBENCO in RM, KAGUIA in Guipos, MANTILIBA FIAMCO, DOFARCO in Dumingag, MAFAMCO in Mahayag, and BARCO/ BMPC of Tukuran.

DAR continuously receives in its endeavor in supporting the farmers.

The LGUs through their respective mayors and barangay captains also extended their gratitude for the unending support that their local farmers are receiving from the projects of DAR. The LinksFarMM or Linking Smallholder Farmers to Market with Microfinance (LinkSFarMM) project is a partnership project that links ARBs to dependable market networks, integrates the supply chain and utilizes the eight steps in agro-enterprise clustering approach in increasing the production and income of ARBs and their household through agricultural extension, marketing assistance, and capacity building.

Meanwhile, the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program pursues to make farmer-beneficiaries more capable of confronting the challenges brought about by climate change by providing farm machinery and equipment through the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries' Organizations (ARBOs).

October - December 2021

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BARC Strengthening and Orientation Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Zamboanga del Norte has intensified its Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) through a simultaneous conduct of orientations/reorientations and strengthening efforts spearheaded by PARPO I Rizzel B. Villanueva in some selected barangays.

The BARC is a local, multi-sectoral implementing body for agrarian reform program composed of private sector and government representatives. It aims to resolve agrarian disputes by addressing problems between and among farmers and landowners in the community as early as possible. It aids in the identification of potential prospects for providing customized support services based on community needs. It also helps DAR choose qualified beneficiaries and track the performance of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in their particular areas.

This activity was conducted because the DAR recognizes the im-

portance of the BARC organization/ reorganization and its role in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) especially in the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.

The BARC is further enhanced under MC 5 s. 2010. It now includes representation of Indigenous Peoples when they are in the community and rural women.

As a result, the Municipal Planning Development Officer has also been included to represent the local government unit in BARC. It will also enable the community to participate actively in the CARP implementation on the major program components like Land Tenure Improvement, Program Beneficiaries’ Development, and the Agrarian Justice Delivery which shall operate on self-help and voluntary services.

The DAR Provincial Office was able to organize/reorganize and strengthen BARCs, especially those barangays under the SPLIT Project. They covered the barangays of Pian, Mutia, Sirawai, Liloy, Salug, Manukan, Sibutad, Dapitan City,

PARPO I Rizzel B. Villanueva during the conduct of BARC orientation and strengthening seminar.

Gutalac, Katipunan, and Godod.

With the cascading of the updated guidelines on the BARC organization and operationalization to the grassroots level, it will ensure compliance with the

directives of the DAR Secretary on BARC reactivation as instituted by EO 229 and subsequently affirmed in RA 6657 as the mechanism and source of participation in the CARP implementation.

Turn-over of Livelihood Project Worth P550,000 to VILFOR The Department of Agrarian Reform Zamboanga Sibugay Province, with its partner agencies - MLGU Buug, De-

partment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Office, Department of Science and Technol-

PARPO II Moh. Dassan Adju together with Mr. Antero Burgos, the president of the Villacastor Farmers Organization during the ceremonial cutting of ribbon of the Rehabilitated Oyster Mushroom Processing Center funded under DAR-Village Level Focused Enterprise Development Project with a total cost of P550,000.

ogy - Provincial Science and Technology Center Zamboanga Sibugay (DOST-PSTC-ZSP), and Food and Drug Authority (FDA), turned-over a PhP 550,000-worth of livelihood project to its Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organization (ARBO) beneficiary, the Villacastor Farmers Organization (VILFOR) of Barangay Villacastor in Buug town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

DAR Zamboanga Sibugay head PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju turned-over the responsibility of managing the Oyster Mushroom Processing Center to VILFOR President Mr. Antero Burgos. Funded under DAR - Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) Project, the project involves the establishment of improved village level processing center in Villacastor Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) where production and processing of oyster mushroom is made by VILFOR workers. It covers building re-

habilitation (P300,000), product enhancement, trade fair participation, capacity development assistance (P235,000), and product laboratory testing (P15,000).

For their counterpart, VILFOR contributed for the renovation of the processing center. The processing center was constructed based on BFAD-LTO standard, hence, with the facility, VILFOR workers would be able to produce safe, quality, and globally competitive food products. VILFOR members, consisted of 37 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and 18 NonARBs, are happy and positive that this livelihood project would further improve their production which would eventually increase their income.

Also in attendance during the activity were VLFED point person Carol B. Maruhumadil, MARPO Joevelia B. Nayre, Villacastor barangay officials and members of VILFOR.

Volume 19 No. 4

October - December 2021

Change of Leadership in DAR Zamboange del Norte

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s the saying goes “There is nothing permanent in this world except change.” The DAR Provincial Office of Zamboanga del Norte underwent changes in its leadership which was formalized through a turn-over ceremony held on December 3 at Top Plaza Hotel, Dipolog City. The activity was in compliance to the Special Order dated November 24 issued by DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz designating PARPO II Arturo N. Soria as the OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Administration.

PARPO II Arturo N. Soria turned-over his responsibility as the head of DARPO Zamboanga del Norte to the incoming OIC-PARPO II Rizzel B. Villanueva. Simultaneously, PARPO I Rizzel B. Villanueva also turned-over his responsibility to the incoming OIC-PARPO I, Engr. Alfonso A. Tan. The newly designated OIC-Assistant Regional Director, Arturo N. Soria, described the day as “a day of thanksgiving for all the blessings we got.” He also shared his memorable experiences as a PARPO II in the department.

Oath taking ceremony of the 9 newly appointed personnel and14 promoted personnel which was administered by the Regional Director, Atty. Ramon E. Madroal, Jr. was also held in the same occasion. Assistant Regional Director Agnes Y. Maata and DAR Regional Adjudicator, Atty.

Jessica T. Agagon, also expressed RD Ramon E. Madroñal, Jr. witnesses the ceremonial turning-over of their happiness and excitement the key of responsibility of PARPO II Arturo N. Soria to the incoming for all the newly appointed and OIC-PARPO II Rizzel B. Villanueva. promoted personnel.

4th Quarter

EDITORIAL STAFF Editors-in-Chief

MA. SOCORRO C. REAMBONANZA SUZETTE T. LOTA

Contributing Editors

JASMINE B. ALIM MAY CHRISTINE V. BOMEZ LEILANI VIC S. VALDEZ APRIL BALASUELA JULLIENNE TUAZON KATRIN ANN ARCALA

Editorial Consultants ATTY. RAMON E. MADROÑAL JR. Regional Director ARTURO N. SORIA ARD for ADMINISTRATION 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