Farmers pose with some of productivity packs they received from DAR. Photo by Armand Galang
CABANATUAN CITY –– Understanding that technology will make farming an easier and moreproductive venture for them, farmers belonging to the Simula ng Panibagong Buhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIPBU–MPC) have long dreamed of having their own machineries.
But SIPBU chair Allan Benitez said the cost of tractors and other machineries was simply prohibitive that they can only have one in their dreams.
“Hanggang pangarap lamang namin nararating kung ano po yung aming mga mithiin katulad po ng machineries na’yan,” Benitez said, ‘Kahit pagsama-samahin po ang asset namin ay baka mahirapan kaming bilhin ang mga machineries na ‘yan.“
SIPBU, based in San Jose City, was one of several farmers’ organizations and individuals who received support from the Department of Agrarian Reform headed by Sec. John Castriciones in ceremonies at the city hall compound here on Tuesday, July 7.
Observing quarantine health protocols, the activity that was also graced by Usec. Emily Padilla, Usec. Virginia Orogo, and other agrarian officials, was also supported by Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara and Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara as well as by the city council led by presiding officer Julius Cesar Vergara.
“Kayo ang tunay na nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa katulad namin,” Benitez said.
Castriciones, along with Rep. Vergara, led the distribution of 21 land titles or certificate of land ownership award to 18 agrarian reform beneficiaries from this city and the towns of Bongabon and Gen. Natividad.
The land titles covered 15. 9438 hectares of rice and onion farms acquired through compulsory acquisition.
Castriciones said they had to bring two of the CLOAs right to the beneficiaries’ farm: “Yung iba po pinuntahan naming mismo dun sa palayan at inabot namin. Tuwang tuwa sila dahil nalaman nila na ang pamahalaan na mismo ang nagdadala ng titulo sa kanilang mismong taniman,“
He said providing extension services has been in their mandate, the DAR made it more comprehensive in this time of pandemic.
Aside from CLOAs, the agency distributed farm productivity assistance of seven packs of various vegetable seeds, seven seedling trays, and one bag of complete fertilizer to each of the 27 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) from nine organizations.
As livelihood support for women in crisis situation, they gave away two sets of egg machine cages, heads of chicken pullets, disinfectants, vitamins and antibiotics to some clusters of women ARBs in ALIZAR FST MPC, Aliaga; Gen. Tinio ARB Cooperative, Gen. Tinio; and Singalat Producers Cooperative in Palayan City.
Two ARBOs, meanwhile, received one unit each of Kubota 4-wheel drive diesel tractor (35HP) with rotary tiller and tractor under the Climate ResilientProductivity Support Project. They were Simula ng Panibagong Bukas MPC, San Jose City and Sangkap Producers Cooperative in Gabaldon,Nueva Ecija.
“Ang unang sigaw kung bakit nagkaroon ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program ay dahil sa pag-aaklas ng mga magsasaka sa Nueva Ecija,” Orogo said.
Padilla who heads the Support Services Office (SSO) for her part stressed: “Ang unang rebolusyon ay nangyari dito sa Nueva Ecija dahil sa lupa, at sa kadahilanang kailangan ng magsasaka ang hustisya.”
