PALAYAN CITY (PIA) — A proposed Rehabilitation and Improvement of Settlement Economies (RISE) Project is expected to boost farm productivity and expand livelihood opportunities for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in a settlement area in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in partnership with Sanyu Consulting Firm of Japan, recently conducted a site validation and field consultation for the proposed project, which covers the Bongabon Stock Farm Reservation–Palayan City Resettlement Area Parcel E.
Spanning 2,102.9117 hectares across the barangays of Marcos Village, Imelda Valley, Atate, Sapang Buho, and Singalat, the settlement area is home to 1,933 ARBs and several agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) engaged in rice, onion and vegetable production.
According to DAR, the proposed RISE Project seeks to support sustainable rural development and enhance the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries in the area through interventions aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening local enterprises, and improving post-harvest and market support facilities.
Among the proposed interventions is the establishment of the Marcos Village Vegetables Processing Enterprise, which seeks to process locally grown vegetables and fruits into mixed vegetable and fruit crisps to help diversify livelihood opportunities and raise the income-generating capacity of ARBs and their organizations.
As part of the project validation, DAR and the Japanese delegation inspected agricultural production areas, an existing post-harvest sorting facility in Barangay Marcos Village, and an onion cold storage facility in Barangay Caballero to assess support infrastructure and identify possible interventions.
The delegation also met with local officials, ARBOs, and Indigenous Peoples representatives to discuss the condition of the settlement area, community priorities, and possible project components.
The proposed RISE Project aligns with the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s efforts to strengthen support for agrarian reform communities through enterprise development and agricultural support interventions. (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)
