Volume 14 No. 10
October-December 2015
8 Pages
Regional Farmers Forum Cum Microfinance Held in Zamboanga Peninsula MORE THAN 200 farmer-beneficiaries from the three provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula Region joined the recently concluded Regional Microfinance cum Farmers’ Convention. The event, which carries the theme “Empowering Farmers on Productivity and Agri-Enterpreneurship Towards Sustainable Rural Development,” was held on November 1718, 2015 at Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Sports Center in Dipolog City. It was the first farmers’ convention initiated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) which seeks to enhance the knowledge of the farmers and their means of accessing the existing support services of the various government agencies as well as increase their household Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob ( 3rd from left) distributes token to one of the invited speakers during the income and contribute to rural economy. Farmers Forum. Others in photo were ( from left) Assistant Directors Atty. Ramon E. Madronal Jr. and Engr. Agnes Y. In an interview, DAR IX Regional Maata. Director Engr. Felix Aguhob explained that the them to the market as the focus of the forum is on coops, ARBs were able to avail of various proconvention will help the farmers to have access agri-enterprise development.”Region IX has grams of the government,” he said. to different farming technologies as well as link plenty of successful coops, and through these Continue on page 2
DAR turns over P2M worth common service facilities to ARBOs
The two units four-wheel drive tractors turned-over to the ARBOs of Siocon, Zamboanga del Sur.
THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform has recently turned-over two common service facilities (CSF) amounting to P2 million to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) as part of the continuing project implemented by the department in the municipality of Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte. “Today marked another livelihood opportunity for the farmer beneficiaries as the common service facilities are now turned-over to THE ARBOs”, DAR Regional Director Felix B. Aguhob said. The identified ARBOs That each will bebenefited with one unit of 4wheel drive 35 horsepower tractor amounting to P 1,000,098.00 each include Al Micubo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (ALMARBAS) and S. Cabral Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (SCARMARBAS). Continue on page 3
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October-December 2015
60 farmers in Zamboanga Sibugay are proud FFS graduates THIRTY FARMERS from the town of Naga and 30 othes from the town of Titay in Zamboanga Sibugay province are now proud graduates of the Farmers’ Field School (FFS) after they finished the required hands-on training and acquired the knowledge and skills needed in the High Value Vegetable Production using the Natural Farming System Technology (HVVP-NFST). The FFS is an approach to building capacity of farmers where school is without walls as sessions take place in the fields of the participating farmers wherein they observe, analyze, experiment, consult and identify solutions among themselves, when confronted with problems. The intervention to farmers was implemented under the Department of Agrarian Reform’s Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program in partnership with the East West Seeds Philippines and the Local Government Unit (LGU) Interested members of the recipient Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) were trained to produce organic vegetables to cater to the needs of the feeding program for Daycare children aside from supplying the basic commodities in the local market, thus, generating additional income to vegetable farmers or producers. Inspired by the result of the project, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Atty. Judith Patriarca-Mantos stressed that the intervention gave awareness to the farmers on the benefits of organic vegetable farming. She lauded the graduates who, according to her, have bravely undertaken the risks just to be involved in the undertak-
ing. DAR IX Assistant Regional Director Engr. Agnes Maata, who gave the confirmation to the graduates and handed the certificates, hoped for a continuous adoption of organic farming in the locality. “More than the LGU, it’s the community or the people who can greatly contribute to poverty reduction”, Maata said when she emphasized the financial benefits that could be derived by the farmers from the project. Prior to the graduation rites, a harvest festival was held where DAR personnel and the farmers harvested and sold the vegetable products to residents and other activity spectators. In a span of five months, the farmers were trained and taught six modular courses which include fundamentals on natural farming system through sustainable agriculture, pre-establishment stage, seed to seedling stage, vegetative stage, reproductive stage, harvesting and post-harvesting stage. In her testimony, Isidra Adolfo, one of the graduates from Naga, recalled the hardships she had gone through during the implementation of the project.
“Many times did I think of backing out and withdrawing but the support of the project implementors motivated me to keep going”, she said. Now, she is reaping the fruits of her sacrifices saying that per experience, organic vegetables are more saleable that those which are chemically produced. The separate graduation ceremonies cum harvest festival were held on October 21, 2015 and October 23, 2015 in Titay and Naga towns, respectively. Also
present in the momentous activities wereDAR-PBDD Chief Anthony Teves, East West Seed Co. Inc. Technical Transfer Manager Dr. Roberto Acosta, DSWD IX Nutrition Program Coordinator Jocelyn Gonzaga, Naga Mayor Gemma Adana, Titay Mayor Maria Esperanza Corazon Rillera, LGU-Titay Administrator Gil Rillera, PAHP Point Person Marilou Acedo, the MARPOs, MAOs and MSWDOs of Titay and Naga, barangay officials and some DAR staff.
DAR IX Assistant Regional Director Engr. Agnes Y. Maata together with the Farmers’ Field School graduates.
Regional Farmers Forum Cum Microfinance Held in Zamboanga Peninsula Continued from page 1 During the conduct of the two-day activity, the resource speakers from the different government agencies shared and explained their existing programs and projects and even answered queries fromthe participants. Among the speakers were Adeliza Gabalfin of BARBD, SRI’s Adelberto Baniqued, Anna Aying and Ernie Camacho of DA, Alex
Haducana of FIDA, Celedonia Palomar of PCA, Oliver Santos of DTI and LBP’s Vinicius Hamoy. Five cooperatives which have attained the level of development and maturity were likewise given the opportunity to share with the other coops their practices and experiences . Also in attendance were Dipolog Mayor Evelyn Uy, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial
Agriculturist Celsa Gayawa, DAR IX Assistant Regional Directors Engr. Agnes Maata and Atty. Ramon Madronal, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Floripes Lagutin and the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers, ARPOS and staff of the DAR Provincial Offices of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.
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DAR Farmers Graduate on System of Rice Intensification EIGHTY FIVE farmers recently graduated on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) program offered by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) consecutively held in the municipalities of Siocon and Sirawai in Zamboanga del Norte. DAR Regional Director Felix B. Aguhob said that the SRI generates hope and new possibilities for increasing crop yields of the farmers. He emphasized that he is looking forward to hard work and dedication from the farmers as it is a tool towards success. Implemented under the AgriEnterprise Development component of Agrarian Reform Community Project2 (ARCP2), the
System of Rice Intensification is a five-month training program where organic farming and proven agricultural practices are taught to farmers. In celebration of the graduation rites and the success of their bountiful harvest, the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO) in collaboration with the local government organized a harvest festival to show-off the abundant result of organic rice production through SRI. “I am truly impressed by this project, my gratitude to DARARCP2 for the new farming techniques with extensive learning opportunities that help farmer beneficiaries substantially increase
Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob (5th from left), SRI Consultant Adelberto Baniqued (2nd from left), PARPO II Mohammad DassanAdju (4th from left), and other guests during the SRI graduation.
DAR turns over P2M worth common service facilities to ARBOs Continued from page 1 Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Mohammad Dassan J. Adju said that the CSFs provided to the ARBOs is one intervention under Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) implemented by DAR
through cooperatives. He added that trainings had been conducted to the ARBOs on how to properly utilize the said facilities. ARCCESS is an alternative rural development approach wherein support services provided by DAR are delivered to selected farmer organizations.
their rice production,” said Siocon Mayor Julius Lobrigas. Meanwhile, Sirawai Mayor Gamar A. Janihim said that by SRI will not only benefit yield and income for the farmers but also promotes good health. On the other hand, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Mohammad Dassan J. Adju spearheaded the distribution of 480 mallard ducks amounting to P96,000 to the two municipalities. Some 240 heads were distributed to Sirawai and the other half to Siocon.
The mallard ducks, locally known as “itik” are known to be beneficial in the course of SRI as it will control pests in the rice fields. In addition to the key speakers, other personalities present were Rizzel B. Villanueva, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer I, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Alfonso Tan, ARCP2 AED Coordinator Leonesa Alpha, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Rose Hornejas and SRI Consultants Adelberto Baniqued and Roberto Verzola.
DAR on ITEMA THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conducted the Information Technology – Enabled Maturity Assessment (ITEMA) to a hundred functional and operating Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) in fifty four agrarian reform communities (ARCs) from October 13 to November 10, 2015 in Zamboangadel Sur. Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARPO) II Arturo N. Soria said that the Agrarian Reform Community Level of Development Assessment (ALDA) is the tool used by DAR to assess the ARCs’ level of development since 1996. However many changes transpired rendering the ALDA tool outdated and inappropriate. After the conduct of ALDA Review Workshops in 2014 it was found out that the assessment tools, both for the ARBOs and the ARCs needs enhancement.The Policy and Planning Service (PPS) with the guidance of an Impact Evaluation and Statistics Consultant conceptualized the ITEMA. This was formerly the Organizational Maturity Assessment (OMA) for ARBOs under ALDA. Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD) Chief
Engr. Josephime G. Sisican added that the ITEMA for ARBOs utilizes mobile phones with uploaded applications designed by an Information Technology Consultant. Among the advantages of this system are : a.) data gathering is fasterb.) data gathered is more accurate and c.) manipulation of data is prevented because of its geo tagging feature. This assures that the data are indeed gathered in the field where the ARBOs are located. The system also allows picture taking and uploading of supporting documents like the ARBOs’ Books of Accounts thus, making the data verifiable. Sisican also explained that ITEMA removed the provincial encoding and regional data processing which took two months. The data gathered by the enumerators are encoded directly in the mobile data entry system and can be immediately uploaded to Department of Agrarian Reform Central Office where the data basing, processing and generation of summary tables and ARBOs’ profiles are done. The ITEMA results are more fitting parameters as one criteria of whether and what type of foreign projects would be provided to ARBOs.
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Turn-over ceremony and MOA signing of concreting and construction. The concreting of 1.733km farm-to-market road in Barangay Damit and construction of concrete drainage line canal in Poblacion Bayog in Zamboanga del Sur with the presence of DAR Regional Director Felix B. Aguhob, ARDO Agnes Yanez Maata M, PARPO II Art Soria, PBDD Chief Engr. Josephine Sisican, MARPO Nenita Cabrido Gallego, Mayor Leonardo Babasa Jr. , other local government officials and DAR personnel.
Ribbon-cuttin 1 unit of (4w ARCCESS w Zamboanga d
Ribbon-cuttin unit (4WD) tr with direct b under DAR (ARCCESS).
REGIONAL MICROFINANCE CUM FARMERS’ CONVENTION. November 17-18, 2015. Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Sports Center in Dipolog City
The community-managed potable water supply and sanitation project in Barangay Canuto Enerio in the town of Gutalac in Zamboanga del Norte (CEARBEMCO) has a total project cost of P140,000. The turning-over of responsibilities is from DAR headed by PARPO II Mohammad Dassan J. Adju to the local government represented by Mayor Onesimo Coma, Jr. and CEARBEMCO as the end user.
Photos taken d Facility (SSF other organiz in Zamboang DTI synchron under the form is the concret laboratory tes soon. PBDD represented D
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Ribbon-cutting, blessing, turn-over and MOA signing of 3 units corn husker sheller and 1 unit (4WD) tractor, 3 (5HP) with disc, plow, trailing harrow and trailer under DAR-ARCCESS worth P1, 353, 420 in Barangay. Upper Dimorok, Simata in Molave town in Zamboanga del Sur.
ng, blessing, turn-over and MOA signing of 3 units of corn husker sheller and wd) tractor, 3 (5hp) with disc, plow, trailing harrow and trailer under DARworth P1,353,420 in Barangay Upper Dimorok, Simata in Molavetown in del Sur.
ng, blessing, turn-over and MOA signing of 1 unit corn husker sheller and 1 ractor, 3 (5HP) with disc, plow, trailing harrow and trailer worth P1,212,420 eneficiaries of 1, 709 arbs in Midsalip town in Zamboanga del Sur. This is Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services
during the launching of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Shared Service F) for Ipil Market Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IMAVEMCO) and 4 zations in Zamboanga Sibugay last November 24, 2015 at Tiayon in Ipil town ga Sibugay. The project was launched as the DTI’s contribution in the DARnization. On the part of DAR, the agency has given the project to IMAVEMCO mer’s Village Level Processing Center Enhancement Project (VLPCEP) which ting of the cooperative’s drying area for its noodles and an amount for the sting of its products and which said projects are set to be turned-over anytime Chief Anthony Teves and PMAO/VLPCEP Point Person Carol Maruhomadil DAR in the said launching activity.
DAR officials convene for a planning workshop highlighting the programs for implementation in the province to include Agrarian Production Credit program, DAR-CRS (Catholic Relief Services),Community-Managed Potable Water Supply and Hygiene; and Convergence of Value-Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment.
Year-end coop assessment and team building.
Farmers’ field school graduation and harvest festival.
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October-December 2015
175 PAMANA Projects Turned Over to Zamboanga del Sur Farmers THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform IX turned over 175 projects worth P52.5 million under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan in Agrarian Reform Areas (PAMANA - ARAs), Phases I and II to 166 Barangay Peoples' Organizations (POs) in the six municipalities of Dinas, San Pablo, Labangan, Dimataling, Aurora and Tabina in Zamboanga del Sur. DAR IX Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob said that 59,780 farmers, comprising of 20,000 households with an estimated145,000 population would directly benefit from the projects which included Multi – Purpose Buildings (MPBs); Multi Purpose (MP) / Solar Dryers; MP Drying Pavements; Stilt Dryers; Seaweed Farming; Irrigation Rehab; Farm to Market Road (FMR) Rehabs; Fish Shade; Day Care Centers; Health Centers; Improvement of Potable H2O Systems; MP Pave-
ments, Tire Paths, Drainage Canals, H2O Tank and Pipe System, Intake Box and H2O Pipe System and Reservoir. Aguhob said that we the farmers are blessed because only Regions IX, X and XI are recipients of the program among 16 regions nationwide. He also said that the projects serve as DAR’s legacy to the public under the PAMANA-ARA program in agrarian reform areas. The six municipal mayors whose municipalities were recipients of the program expressed their gratefulness to PAMANA-ARA and DAR and to the local government unit teams for the projects granted to their barangays. Through these projects we were able to established peace and sow the “seeds of peace” in our conflict stricken municipalities. The projects will also spur development and promote lasting peace and order.
Present during the turn-over ceremonies were , DAR Central Office Chief for Program Develop-ment Services Teresa Baul, PAMANA – ARA National Coordinator Jerry Pascua, DAR officials and personnel headed by Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob,
Mayors Belman Mantos of San Pablo, Basilio Vidad of Dinas, Greg Dayondon of Tabina, Atty. Dorotheo Boen Cabahug of Aurora, Haniel Baya of Dimataling and Marlon Valenzuela of Dimataling who spearheaded the activities in their respective municipalities.
9 coops learn basic accounting
Some members of the nine cooperatives, attending Basic Accounting Seminar
Farmer beneficiary Eustaquio Gunong shows off his Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) handed by Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Amando G. Alama.
THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Zamboanga Sibugay conducted a seminar on basic accounting for 9 coops from October 29 to 30, 2015 at CS Hotel in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay. Entitled “Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants,” the seminar was held as a compliance under the DAR-CDA Capacity Development Program. The participating coops include the Kinaugalingong Paningkamot sa Maayong Panglawas Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KPMPMPC), Nazareth Women’s Association, Nanan Integrated Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NIDMPC), Sulo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SARBEMCO), Ipil Market Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IMAVEMCO), Makilas Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MIDMPC), all from Zamboanga
Sibugay, the Malandi Patalon Zamboanga City Agrarian Reform Association (MAPZACARA) and Lumayang Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (LARBO) of Zamboanga City, and the United Workers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UWARBMPC) of Isabela City, Basilan. According to Mr. Romulus Perez, DAR-Zamboanga Sibugay CapDev Point Person, the seminar is the 8th of the fourteen mandatory trainings covered under the program for which the participating coops are required to attend. Perez said that the nine cops were chosen to capacitate them since they are the recipients of the on-going programs and projects of DAR. Ateneo de Zamboanga University Professor Dr. Josephine Dajuela served as the lecturer of the two-day seminar. (JLC, DAR-ZS Info Section)
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DAR connects with farmer leaders through para-legal training
To assist the municipal officers in CARP implementation, a Para-Legal Training was conducted to some farmers.With the participants is Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob (center).
THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently conducted a farmer para-legal formation towards effective partnership in agrarian reform program implementation in Zamboangadel Norte. This was participatedin by 28 participants coming from various municipalities in the province. Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Office II Moh.Dassan J. Adju said that the farmer para-legal training program is an effective tool in assisting the DAR municipal offices in fast tracking the acquisition and distribution of target landholdings under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The objective of the training is to assist organized farmers and farm workers in resolving the tenurial issues and other agrarian related concerns through a continuing formation program consisting of trainings and upgrading of farmer para-legals. It also aims to strengthen the partnership engagement between and among community agrarian reform stakeholders, farmer paralegals and local implementers. The participants expressed gratitude to DAR for the opportunity to understand the issues affecting program implementation in the community and be involved in the fast tracking of land acquisition and distribution.
DAR turns over P7.8-M farm-to-market road THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned-over the P7.8-million 1.7 kilometer stretch of concrete farm-to-market road (FMR) in Barangay Damit in Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur. This FMR is funded by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) under the DAR Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP III). Mayor Leonardo Babasa, Jr. said he is grateful for the FMR as this eases the transport of the farmers’ produce from their farms to the market. Babasa also acknowledged the valued role of the DAR officials along with the presence of San Pablo Mayor Belman Mantos. Meanwhile, DAR IX Regional Director Felix B. Aguhob said that the government thru DAR is mandated to deliver support services like FMRs, among others, to ease the ferrying of the goods of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and other farmers from their lands to the
Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob (4th from right) during the turn-over of the P7.8 million farm-to-market road in Damit, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur. Also in photo were Assistant Regional Director Engr. Agnes Y. Maata (5th from right ) and PARPO II Arthuro Soria (6th from right)
market. “This also lessens the travel time for such transports and supports the well – being and health of the farmers” he said. Moreover, Provincial AR Program Officer Arturo N. Soria is happy of the unity and support of the barangay populace. “I value your cooperation and industry for the
completed FMR on to the progressive development of your place which I hope will be sustained till the next generations”, PARPO Soria stressed. Also present and recognized for their contribution to the success of the FMR completion and turn – over were Asst. Regional Director IX
Engr. Agnes Y. Maata, DAR ZDS Program Beneficiaries Development Division Chief Engr. Josephine G. Sisican, ARISP III Provincial Coordinators Engr. Nestor Ermac, May Christine V. Bomes, Ruby Flor G. Consolacion with Jinky O. Asadil and Korina Soriano assisting.
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Farmer organizations sign for P26-M cacao contract deal
October-December 2015
EDITORIAL STAFF Editors-in-Chief GLORIA M. SARACHO MA. SOCORRO C. REAMBONANZA
Assistant Editor SUZETTE T. LOTA
Contributing Editors SHANIE P. JACINTO LAILANIE VIC S. VALDEZ ARNETTE COMIQUE JOHN LLOYD CABABAT
Editorial Consultants ENGR. FELIX B. AGUHOB Regional Director
ATTY. RAMON E. MADROÑAL, JR. DAR-KFI-LBP extending financial through loans to cacao farmers in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte. This was headed by DAR IX Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob (5th to right), PARPO II Mohammad J. Adju (4th to right), PARPO I Rizzel B. Villanueva (3rd to right), LBP Account Officer Perry Valtazar( center ), with the ARBO officers and LGU officials.
THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in partnership with Kennemer Foods International (KFI) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) embarked on a P26 million contract growing deal to boost the cacao production in the municipalities of Siocon and Baliguian in Zamboanga del Norte. “Through the contract growing scheme that intends to provide alternative and sustainable source of increased income and farm productivity through cacao production, I am positive that cacao would come as a blooming industry in Region IX,” DAR Regional Director Felix B. Aguhob said.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO) Mohammad Dassan J. Adju mentioned that the ARBO recipients include A.L. Micubo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (ALMARBAS) and S. Cabral Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (SCARBAS) in Siocon and Kauswagan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KARBEMCO) in Baliguian. DAR-KFI-LBP tripartite partnership through Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) has allocated more than P16M for cacao plantation and production in Siocon. It has set a target to plant cacao in 229 hectares of land in the
agrarian reform communities (ARC), while the municipality of Baliguian has 138.5-hectare with more than P 9 Million fund allocation also for cacao production. LBP will finance the cacao production while DAR will assist the cooperatives in the submission of loan requirements to LBP. KFI is a producer and marketer of food and agricultural products. It specializes in growing and trading of high-quality agricultural crops, especially fermented cacao beans. The company has been offering a long-term growing program for farmers who are interested in planting cacao. Under the KFI contract-growing program, farmers are provided
ARD for ADMIN. & Legal Services
ENGR. AGNES Y. MAATA ARD for LTS/TASS
For inquiries, please write or call the DAR Regional Office IX, Veterans Avenue Extension, Zamboanga City Telephone No. (062) 955-2155 Email add: dar_reg9@yahoo.com.ph
with planting materials, inputs, trainings, on-going supervision and consultation and a guaranteed buy-back of the harvest at a price linked to the world price. PARPO I Rizzel B. Villanueva quipped that DAR will continue to provide proper intervention and support to the cacao farmers.