Farmers deliver assistance to fellow agricultural workers amid fight against Covid-19 in Nueva Ecija. Photo courtesy PARO Nueva Ecija
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija –The Department of Agrarian Reform and other government agencies help several Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizationsand cooperatives in delivering rice supplies and other relief to the farmers and other agricultural workers in Nueva Ecija.
“For their members and residents in their communities, they give relief goods like sack pack of rice, hygiene kits and groceries. They also donate for their barangay and LGU for distribution to their constituents, ” said Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer 1 Jocelyn Ramones of DAR Nueva Ecija.
She added that some ARBOs were even “giving cash or in kind to their members, also dividends during celebration of their founding anniversaries.”
Ramones identified agencies that religiously support ARBOs as the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies, Department of Trade and Industry, Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The farmers, she stressed, joined President Duterte in working for “Bayanihan to Heal As One,” against the dreaded Covid-19.
Even earlier, the DAR had extended support services to these ARBOs. These, Ramones said, includedtrainings, organizational development and membership, common service facilities or farm machines and equipment under the Climate Resiliency Farm Productivity Program.
The DAR also facilitated their credit availment with the LBP.
According to John Natividad, it is high time that farmer-members be given help to be able to cope with the lockdown. Natividad is the manager of Talabutab Norte PMPC of General Natividad.
In addition, Nora Angeles, manager of the Bantug Agricultural MPC said that they are doing everything they can to extend relief to their constituents.
Irene Subido, manager of Nagkakaisang Magsasaka PMPC at Tabacao, Talavera, also said that together they can cope with this pandemic.
The ARBOs who have been giving reliefs are the BAMC, TNPMPC, NMPMPC, CASPA, Makabagong Magsasaka MPC, Sta. Lucia Old Potable Water Service Coop, Lawang Kupang Farmers Coop, Orient Agriculture Coop, among others.
