The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday announced the turnover of hauling trucks and farm machinery to six agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in the Province of Sultan Kudarat.
The P8.5 million worth of hauling trucks and farm machinery is expected to boost farm production of the DAR-assisted ARBOs, DAR Sultan Kudarat Agrarian Reform Program Officer Mary Jane A. Aguilar said in a news statement.
The hauling trucks and farm machinery were provided as part of the Italian Assistance to the Agrarian Reform Community Development Support Program (IARCDSP) under the microfinance component-agri-enterprise development of the Italian Project. Aguilar said the five hauling trucks were turned over each to the Pangulan-Isulan Irrigators Services Association Inc. of Laguilayan agrarian reform community (ARC); SAMAKANA Multi-purpose Cooperative of Bual ARC; Sitio Lagon Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative of President Quirino; STK ARC, Pambansang Mananalon Magbabaul at Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Inc.(P4MP), of Tacurong ARC; and New Calinog Women’s Association of LUV Lebak ARC; while the Kalamansig Para sa Kalikasan, Kaunlaran at Kalayaan received two units of Rice Reapers.
“Maintain the usability of these farm machinery and hauling trucks, as it will greatly help in the transport of crops and will significantly reduce hauling fees of your products delivered to market,” Aguilar said.
Shirly Lloyd P. Gonzales, president of Pangulan-ISA who received the hauling truck, expressed his gratitude to DAR and the Italian government for providing them with implements for a better quality of life for their organization, as well as their families.
“Our association has been dreaming of this project for so long. And now that it came true, with this hauling truck provided to us for free, our association will surely grow and develop successfully and we are hoping that it will alleviate us from poverty. On behalf of our association, we humbly thank DAR and the Italian government for all the support given to us,” said Gonzales.
The Italian Project is a foreign-assisted project, funded under the loan agreement executed with the Government of Italy. It aims to address poverty, as well as to elevate the income and livelihood of its beneficiaries, particularly in agrarian reform communities in Mindanao.