PAGES 6-7 Photo NewsPAGE 2 FARMER FIELD SCHOOL a school without walls PAGE 3 PAGE 8ADB Mid-Term Review of

ARCP2 projects in Bicol

story on page 2

RD Boy Bueno, Jr. of DAR and Mayor Alexander Pajarillo Lo of LGU Mercedesled the ribbon cutting ceremony for ARC

PAMAHIMA farm to market road. ARDO Rod Realubit (2nd fr left), Vice Mayor Brenda Salalima (rightmost),

PARO Ross Olayres (center) and MARO Jinny Glorioso (leftmost) assisting.

see story on page 2

FEATURE:TheAdorino Affair

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More than 50 million worth of projects ranging from farm to market roads to post-harvest facilities and potable water supply were turned over to local government units of Mercedes and Sta. Elena in Camarines Norte on August 28 & 29, 2014.

Funded under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Projects Phase III (ARISP 3), the projects include: a) Concreting of 4.484 kilometers farm to market road for 26M b) Potable Water Supply Level II worth 4 million pesos for ARC PAMAHIMA in Mercedes and c) Concreting of Junction National Road to Rizal - Poblacion - San Lorenzo FMR costing 15 million pesos and d) Construction of Sta. Elena Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SEFMPC) Post Harvest Facilities worth 6M in ARC Rizal & Poblacion in Sta. Elena.

The road networks are seen to be a key to unlock the economic potentials for the ARCs. Accessibility would redound to full utilization of agricultural lands because

farmers’ produce would find its way easily to the market center. Post-harvest facility (PHF) aids in the maximum utilization of lands that leads to increased productivity, food security and poverty reduction.

Serving more or less 7000 residents in ARC PAMAHIMA including 467 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), the usual 2-hour travel time for 25 kilometers Daet to Pambuhan Mercedes trip trimmed down by at least an hour, and a corresponding decrease in the cost of fare will give favor to transporting publics. The road will also give benefit to more or less 10,000 residents of the 5 farflung barangays of Mercedes like Tarum, Colasi, Hamoraon, Lanot and Lalawigan.

The Potable Water Supply level II however will serve 250 households, including 189 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). The water supply will significantly reduce the high incidence of diarrhea and other water-borne diseases among children which the residents had long been experiencing for which they attributed to poor water system.

For ARC Rizal/Poblacion, 4.2 km road concreting is expected to directly benefit at least 400 agrarian reform beneficiaries

and, more or less 16,000 residents of the ARC and its adjoining barangays of San Lorenzo and Salvacion. The benefit of this road project can extend to the residents of the neighboring town of Capalonga. The usual travel time of 15 minutes for 1 kilometer is projected to decrease by at least a quarter of the time after the construction of this road.

Meanwhile, the PHF has warehouse capacity of 3,500 cavans, 49sqm coop office and 450sqm solar dryer. The PHF will house the common service facilities granted to the SEFMPC through the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity & Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program of DAR.

The ribbon cutting and turn-over ceremonies were led by DAR V Regional Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr, and Mayor Alexander Pajarillo Lo of the town of Mercedes and Mayor Dina E. Borja of Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte, assisted by Asst Regional Director for Operations Rod

Realubit, Cam Norte PARO II Ross Olayres, Vice Mayor Brenda K. Salalima of Mercedes and Vice Mayor DaniloI basco of Sta. Elena, and the barangay councils of the recipient barangay.

Mayors Lo and Borja were bereft of words to express their gratefulness when they finally signed and received the turn-over documents from RD Bueno and PARO Olayres of DAR. Moreover, as amatter of support to the projects, Vice Mayor Salalima and Ibasco pledged an active support for the projects. As a matter of fact, LGU Mercedes allocated an annual budget for the maintenance of the potable water supply. The recipient barangays and ARB Organizations are also thankful for the huge benefits the projects would be bring to the ARC and ARBs.

These multimillion projects are the first of its kind ever implemented in DAR Camarines Norte through a foreign assistance. For so long time, FAPs had been very elusive in Camarines Norte. It was only after the 20th year of CARP implementation that ARISP III touched ground in Camarines Norte in 2009 initially in the municipality of Mercedes and extended in Sta. Elena in 2010. ARISP III is a foreign-assisted project funded under the 27th Yen Loan Package of the Government of Japan under the JICA. (Nilla P. Lagatuz)

The Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) of Pacol, Cararayan and San Isidro, Naga City has been tapped as a farmer field school for 30 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries who meet every Saturday for a ‘hands-on’ discovery-based learning. The participants are trained on how to farm better through observation and analysis which they try out

on a collective 2,000 sq. meter demo farm. The learning-by-doing field exercises give the farmers the opportunity to learn for themselves soil productivity, soil conservation, land management and water management practices.

The field school is composed of 17 women and 13 men, who are Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and potential Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries. They were recommended by the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) and Farmers’ Association (FA) of their respective barangays. The Agrarian Reform Community has three farmers’ organizations namely: Pacol Magsasaka Prime Community (PMPC), Cararayan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Empowered Community (CARBEMCO) and the San Isidro Farmers’ Organization (SIFO).

The farmer field school is a partnership amongst three government agencies – DAR, DA and the LGU. DAR funded P50, 000.00 for the inputs and farm implements, while the Department of Agriculture (DA) provided the materials for vermiculture composting and facilities which included a brewer, a shredder and 15 kgs of vermi worms and the Local Government Unit (LGU) provided technical assistance and a trainer for the Saturday classes.

Extension workers from the LGU assist them by providing lectures and skills training which encourages creativity and independence.

The course program includes team building and organization skills as well as lectures on special topics requested by participants themselves. These stimulate

empowerment of farmers to implement decisions on their own fields.

The participants planted varied cash crops of eggplants, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, moringa, sweet corn, beans and squash.

The farmer field school also taught the participants production methods such as organic farming practices (vermi composting, creating Organic Fertilizers using indigenous materials), Seasonal Calendar for planting pattern and Soil Analysis to determine the required nutrients of the soil to enable growing healthy crops.

The farmers meet every week from planting to harvest to monitor how crops are growing. Farmers are encouraged to draw on their own experiences and observations and make decisions. The group exchange ideas and perspectives.

One of the goals of the farmer field school is for farmers to become economically viable through sustainable crop farms using organic fertilizers that are safe for human health.

To date, the farmer field school has been replicated in six (6) areas in Districts II and III in the ARCs of Bonot-Sta. Rosa, Calabanga; Barangay Libod, ARC Tinawagan-Coyaoyao, Tigaon; ARC May-ogob, Ocampo; Sta. Cruz, Ocampo; ARC Bagong Sirang, Pili and Bgy. Del Rosario, Pili. (Carla R. Yu)

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the post harvest facility of Sta. Elena Farmers MPC is led by Regional Director Luis Bueno, Jr. (2nd fr right) of DAR V & Vice Mayor Danilo Basco. Assisting them are PARO Ross Olayres of DAR Cam Norte (rightmost), SEFMPC Chairman Virgie Gianan (leftmost) & Rev. Fr. Milo Caymo

RD Bueno, ARDO Rod and LGU executives take a closer look at the PWS faucets of PAMAHIMA ARC.

FARMER FIELD SCHOOLa school without walls

DAR Camarines Norte turns over 51 million worth infra projects to LGUs

ON THE COVERJULY-AUGUST 2014

Cover Story

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mission headed by Team Leader Marzia Mongiorgi-Lorenzo arrived in Legazpi City to conduct a Mid-Term Review of the Second Phase Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP2) implementation in Bicol from July 1-3, 2014.

In a forum held at the Hotel Venezia, issues and concerns regarding the implementation of projects were threshed out to come up with solutions and employ strategies to improve and hasten the project implementation in the remaining months.

Specifically, the project implementation in the province of

Sorsogon was evaluated through its PPCO Team headed by PARPO/Provincial Project Manager Felix Fruto.

ARD for Operations Rodrigo O. Realubit on the other hand presented a brief regional overview and status of the subprojects being carried out in the region under the said program.

The ADB Mission, which also include Ms. Sunutar Setboonsarng, Principal Natural Resources & Agricultural Specialist; Mr. Lindsay Saunders, Consultant; Ms. Syarifah Arman-Wooster, Senior Social Development Specialist; and Ms. Edita T. Tayao - Castro, Project Analyst, visited the provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte which are also recipients of the ARCP2.

Ms. Jean Fornoles, Consultant-Economist from the NPCO, in a media interview said that the assessment of the projects is being undertaken nationwide, and the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte are just three of the many provinces covered by the ARCP2 projects in the country.

RSSD Chief Lerma Dino supported that in Bicol, funding for the ARCP2 projects has already reached around P1.2 billion covering 181 subprojects. It ranges from farm-to-market-roads, multi-purpose buildings and post-harvest facilities to social infrastructures such as school buildings, health centers, day care centers and level II potable water system.

ARCP II is funded mainly through loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the support from the national government through its National Government

Assistance for Local Government Units or NGALGU.

Also present during the forum were NPCO officials Engr. Richelle Penera and Accountant Marco Paulo Rodriquez; and DAR V officials headed by RD/Regional Project Manager Luis B. Bueno, Jr. (MTV General)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted its medium term review in Camarines Sur recently, to find out and understand if the projects are doing well, and if the projects are improving lives of the people in the communities. The guests had an audience with the agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) who are recipients of the projects.

The profound gratitude of ARBO leader Jimmy Abonita was insightful when he shared the gains they have reaped in the concreting of the dirt road though it is yet to be fully completed by saying,“Before, we used carabao sleds to transport our heavy loads to tow over our bumpy farm track, now jeepneys ply through regularly, motivating farmers to increase farm produce. It is also easier now to access social services offered by the local government units such as health and technical assistance. The continuing capability development of DAR, DA and other government agencies help the farmers a lot”.

The same sentiments were shared by almost every one of the leaders, which ADB consultant Mr. Lindsay Saunders was happy to note saying “road is the key to success of the farmers”. When he asked the group what other assistance they need, again a clamor for more roads surfaced.

DAR OIC-PARPO I Raquel Claveria was anxious that the road builders might suspend continuance of work as delay in the release of funds is a regular pain despite full liquidation by the LGUs. Saunders explained that liquidation of disbursement has always been a bottleneck in almost all the provinces countrywide, but he would do his best to help Camarines Sur get its share of funding.

The ADB team was quite pleased with what they have heard from the ARBOs that Saunders addressing the group quipped,“you have very good projects, very energizing. Were you all involved in the project identification?” To which everyone answered “Yes”.

Addressing PARPO II Leo Gaveria and OIC-PARPO I Raquel Claveria, in a handshake said, “you have done a good job. This is how a manager should work”.

The Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 (ARCP 2) are project components that is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through loans, grants, and equity investments aimed to improve lives through sustained and inclusive growth of marginalized groups in targeted communities.

The goal is to be achieved through an integrated and complementary package of development investments through a community–driven development (CDD) approach such as support to new and expanded Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC), Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) and their business-oriented activities, increased effective participation of the poor in community planning and decision-making, agri-enterprise development, infrastructural support, and mainstreaming of project management.

In Camarines Sur, ARCP 2 covers 16 ARCs, 11 municipalities, 59 barangays, 22 Peoples’ Organizations with a total of 10597 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

The project Component includes rural infrastructure of 19 school buildings, 3 health centers, 6 multi-purpose buildings (MPB), 7 solar dryers, 2 flood control systems, 4 irrigation controllers and 35 access roads benefitting a total of 32125 households, 30896 ARBs, and created 4548 job opportunities. This entire sub-project (SP) costs a total of P542, 755,334.03.

As of June 30, 2014, the completed sub-projects is at 27%, covering five access roads with a total length of 4.8809 kms, four solar dryers, two MPBs, three Day Care Centers, eight school buildings and one health center. There are 38 ongoing projects namely: one flood control system, two MPBs, one Day care center, 11 school buildings,two health centers and 21 access roads; seven of the SPs though are deferred and the rest are still undergoing reviews. (Carla R. Yu)

Principal Natural Resources & Agricultural Specialist Ms. Sunutar Setboonsarng (center) stresses some points during the review of Sorsogon ARCP2 projects, and ADB Mission Team Leader Marzia Mongiorgi-Lorenzo takes down notes (right) while DARRO V RSSD Chief Lerma Dino listens.

JULY-AUGUST 2014

ADB Mid-Term Review of ARCP2 pro jects in Bicol

“You have done a good job. This is how a manager should work”- ADB Mission Team to DAR Cam. Sur management

ONE TEAM, ONE VISION.The ADB Mission Team, DAR Bicol officials and ADB recipients in their signature thumbs-up sign.

Ms. Jean Fornoles, Consultant - Economist from NPCO, in a media interview.

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DAR Sorsogon conducted a 2-day ARCP II Capacity Building Seminar on July 8-9, 2014 to 26 members of Operation and Maintenance Committee also known as “Community-based partners” of 13 sub-projects under the Agrarian Reform Communities Project II (ARCP II ) to institutionalize the infrastructure quality monitoring and durability system (IQMDS), and the operation and maintenance (O & M) of rural infrastructure projects.

“Monitoring, operation, and maintenance of the project under ARCP II is part of the agreement between LGU and DAR-ARCP II. The task does not end in the completion of the project only but in maintaining its good quality. Thus, as community-based partners, you have also the responsibility to monitor the project,” said Felix E. Fruto, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II.

Resource person Engr. Jesus Dela Rosa, Regional Technical Coordinator for ARCP II,reminded the participants how, when, what, and why they have to monitor the infrastructure projects of the government. In the province of Sorsogon, there are six completed ARCP II infrastructure projects that should be monitored and maintained. These are the San Isidro – Nalup-an FMR in Castilla; Multipurpose Building in Casiguran; Sipaya – Calateo FMR in Juban; Solar Dryer in Irosin; Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) in Bulan; and Fabrica – Del Pilar FMR also in Bulan. Meanwhile, the other seven ARCP II infrastructure projects are still on-going. These are the Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Castilla; Flood Control Phase I & II, and Trece Martirez FMR in Casiguran; Sipaya – Taboc FMR in Juban; Hidhid – Banogao FMR in Matnog; and the Jupi – Dita FMR in Gubat.

“The implementation of these ARCP II sub-projects will end in December 2014 that’s why it is very important to monitor the construction of these to see whether the program of work and the detailed engineering design of the project was followed. After all, you are the one who will sustain it the moment the project was turned-over to you,” said CARPO Liza Repotente to the community-based partners.

The details of Operation and Management was discussed by Lucy S. Vitug, resource speaker on the second day, wherein she answered the many questions of the participants regarding the ARCP II projects in their area.

“I am very thankful to DAR specially to Ma’am Lucy for leading and guiding me in the preparation of the needed documents from our level up to the national. Without her dedication to service it would be difficult for me to prepare those requirements,” said Wilson Gime, Brgy. Chairperson of Lahong, Bulan, Sorsogon. He is also the current Treasurer of Lahong – Pawa Farmers Irrigators’ Association (LAPAFARA).

This capacity building seminar is indeed a success. The participants expressed their gratitude to DAR for involving them in this activity. While filling-up their action plan (seminar’s output), a follow-through was agreed between them and Maribel Lubiano, the Community-Driven Development (CDD) point person to be carried out. (Alura A. Jaso)

Brazilian national Mr. Flavio Luis Mazarro de Fretas, representative of the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) paid DAR Camarines Sur II a visit to share Brazil’s experience on the Zero Hunger Program, assess the local communities’ capability and the Zero Hunger program’s feasibility of being replicated in some areas in the province.

Flavio discussed that the zero hunger program of Brazil takes a number of forms

such as conditional cash transfer (CCT) to the poorest families, school feeding, social assistance services such as creating water cisterns, low-cost restaurants, food bank; support to family farming such as local food purchase, Income generation and social mobilization and partnership.

The Partnership against Hunger and Poverty Program unites the government agencies of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Social

Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Local Government Units (LGUs) to forge collaborative efforts to address poverty and hunger in the community.

One of the strategies identified under the Philippine Development Plan is to support the agricultural sector’s goal of improving food security and increasing income, which DAR through its Program Beneficiaries Development sector is carrying out in the integration and complementation of support services provision through the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs).

The DSWD on one hand has its Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) to Day Care Children with the LGUs. It downloads funds to the LGUs that take care of budget and liquidation, and works with

day care parents. The Day Care parents manage the SFP on a daily basis by preparing meals for their children based on a ready menu from DSWD.

DSWD Director Arnel Garcia said, “SFP aims to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices of children, parents and caregivers through intensified nutrition and health education”.

It is through the synergies of these

government agencies with which the best practices of the zero hunger strategy is hoped to be implemented in the third congressional district of the province.

The plan is to create agricultural extension services such as a local food hub (e.g. ARBOs) where small farm holders can sell their farm produce at a fair market value, which will be the conduit for the LGUs to forge agreement with on purchases of food for the SFP of the day care children.

Congresswoman Leni Robredo was concerned that the small farmers who are not members of the ARBOs or are not within the Agrarian Reform Communities might be overlooked and not be given a chance to participate in the program.

DAR’s Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Rodrigo Realubit quickly assured her that the ARBO’s include membership of non-agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Dr. Edgar Madrid of the Department of Agriculture assured the group that his office is willing to provide not only technical assistance but also farm equipment and seed packets for the small farm holders.

This synergy hopes to accelerate progress through increase in income amongst small farm holders and at the same time eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by providing healthy and nutritious food to pre-school children. It also creates food security by having a reliable access to affordable and healthy foods. (Carla R. Yu)

JULY-AUGUST 2014

Government agencies converge for PHP

DAR approves P10.4M GPB

projects in AlbayFour municipalities in Albay will soon

implement projects under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) program amounting amounting to P10.43 million after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the allocated budget earlier this year.

Among the projects to be implemented are Coco Processing and Coco-based Farming System in Guinobatan; Construction of 100 linear meter Spillway in Bgy Aurora-White Deer, Jovellar; Construction of 1.5 km Marayag-San Isidro FMR in Libon;and Construction of 35 linear meter Concrete Footbridge inSitioLagsingan, Rapu-Rapu.

Preparatory activities for these projects are now being undertaken by the DAR Albay as such Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with the concerned Municipal Mayors is set on September 10, 2014.

This projects once completed will benefit 10,400 farmers of which 527 are agrarian reform beneficiaries in the above-cited areas. (George P. Olayres)

(counter clockwise) OIC-PARPO Felix Fruto, BDCD chief Liza Repotente and SUARPO Lucy Vitug with the participants.

Community-based partners, their role in ARCP II implementation in Sorsogon

5JULY-AUGUST 2014

Despite the devastation brought about by typhoon Glenda, two (2) significant events, the launching of Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PHP) and the turn-over of Water Sanitation (WATSAN) facilities, had been successfully held by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Barangay Poblacion, Castilla, Sorsogon.

The Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PHP) program is a convergence initiative efforts of the DAR,Department of Agriculture (DA),Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) and LGU-Castilla which covers the municipality of Castilla, being the pilot area in the province of Sorsogon.

“The idea originated from Brazil. This is all about social feeding. The three agencies became partners in this program because the DSWD has Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps which is a feeding

program; DAR has many Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations or ARBOs that can supply them vegetables for their feeding program; and the DA provides free vegetable seedlings to our farmers. Thus, they are interconnected with each other in PHP wherein the components of this project are provision to the feeding program for Day Care Centers, Support to Agrarian Reform Community Agri-Enterprise Development, Provision of Production Technology and Facilities and Establishment of Community Food Hub,” said Felix E. Fruto, OIC- Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II.

Since January 2014 the PHP Core Team headed by CARPO Liza B. Repotente at the DAR Provincial Office and MARPO Rolando B. Brimonat the DAR Municipal Office organized the series of orientation, consultation and participatory farm assessments in seven (7) ARCs and 27 Non-ARC barangays. It drew the participation of 1,875 stakeholders.

There are 59 Day Care Centers in these barangays which are covered by the program, while an initial of five (5) barangays involving 12 ARB cooperators started the production of vegetables in an aggregate area of 1,100 square meters.

Complementing the PHP program, Community-based Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (CPWASH) is also implemented in Castilla by the DAR Sorsogon. This is the provision of water and sanitation facilities which includes iron removal filter, rain water collector and bio-gas digester. The Chairperson Antonio L. Ortiz of Barangay Poblacion is so thankful that their area became a recipient of this project. According to him, he lobbied that these facilities be installed in his barangay since he has many constituents who need free potable water.

Potable water supply and available fuel generated from the bio-gas digester can also be a support facility of the barangay for the feeding program under the PHP.

The 903rd Brigade of the Philippine Army also showed support in this project by sharing their strength and resources in the construction of these facilities. On the other hand, they gained knowledge which they can share in case others will need the same facilities. “PHP and WATSAN can be both associated with ‘Bayanihan’. In PHP, the 4Ps’ recipients will be provided with nutritious food by the ARBOs, and in return, they will get some earnings. In WATSAN, while the community provides the labor for the construction of facilities, skilled workers can

derive additional income if they will be hired eventually. The program itself portrays ‘Bayanihan’,” said Major Lazaro D. Quigao, Jr. (INF) PA Brigade EX-O.

The activity includes site visit of Pili Day Care Center wherein DAR, DSWD, and LGU-Castilla made interaction with the day care children and day care workers; site visit of vegetable production area where they interviewed the farmer-cooperators; site visit of WATSAN Facilities; distribution of Certificates of Training and Commitment Signing for CPWASH; and Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for PHP.

“CPWASH and PHP covered many areas. In PHP, there is food, the farmers have livelihood. In CPWASH, there is potable water. Those who contributed effort in the construction of these facilities, if hired, can also have other sources of income. These two projects are perfect partners because while we need food, we also need potable water. Projects like these are worthy of our support,” said Edgar N. Ardales, representative of Hon. Olivia M.Bermilio, Mayor of Castilla.

DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Corazon B. Miña informed the community that Php2,244,400.00 has been transferred to LGU Castilla for the feeding program. Seeing how the ARBOs produce, she assured the community of their continued support for this program because DSWD is for sustainable livelihood program.

The initial program coverage areas of PHP in the Philippines are 1 province which is Camarines Norte, 1 district which is the Third District of Camarines Sur, and 1 municipality which is Castilla. Now that this program has been launched, CARPO-RPBDD Lerma Dino of DAR Regional Office V said that the next project in this area will be the establishment of Community Food Hub to store the excess produce of ARBOs. (Alura A. Jaso)

PHP Launching and Turn-over of WATSAN Facilities in Castilla, Sorsogon

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently sealed an accord with the Catanduanes State University (CSU) that would help develop agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in the province into efficient agri-business enterprises.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Alexander Teves and State Universities and Colleges President-III Dr. Minerva Morales of CSU signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) covering institutional support programs for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and their organizations in their social infrastructure and agricultural enterprise development activities.

Teves said the DAR would shoulder training costs and materials covered in the agreement while the CSU would provide training modules and other instructional medium, including provision of professional services as trainors, secretariat support, and consultancy based on the approved training programs.

“This partnership with the academe is seen to spur new initiatives in terms of managing ARC organizations’ development affairs,” Teves said.

Dr. Morales, on the other hand, said that the academe should remain at the heart of any development effort in the community. “The kind of development prevailing in the society would reflect the kind of academe it has,” she added.

In response, Tito Torillos, a farmer-beneficiary of Barangay Biong, Gigmoto lauded the two institutions for coming up with an intervention program that would greatly benefit the farmers in general.

Teves said the partnership is another highlight in the DAR’s rural development efforts in the province as it slowly but steadily shifts its operations towards Program Beneficiaries’ Development (PBD) activities before the year ends. PBD is a support service program that

aims to capacitate the farmer-beneficiaries to make their lands more productive.

Teves further said that Catanduanes would be a land-reformed province soon as he expressed confidence to distribute, by the end of the year, the last landholding placed under the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). (Bong S. Villar)

DAR, State University forge partnership to boost ARCs in Catanduanes

DAR – CSU PARTNERSHIP takes off in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by both heads of said agencies, PARPO-II Alexander T. Teves, and SUC President- III Dr. Minerva I. Morales during the last day of a 3-day live-in training on Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants participated by all designated Bookkeepers and Treasurers in the ARB Organizations organized as Peoples’ Organizations of the DAR from the 11 municipalities of Catanduanes held August 20-23, 2014 at Rhaj Inn, Virac, Catanduanes with Dr. Lily P. Custodio of CSU (3rd from left, front row) as Resource Person. Witnessing the occasion were (l-r, back row) CARPO Nerisa B. Aldea, Engr. Anselmo Vargas Jr. both from DAR, CSU Board Secretary Renato Panti, and Prof. Marilyn B. Panti, CSU Director for Extension Services.

(2)Tomas Diesta, DAR Sorsogon Point Person for Organic Agriculture (in black hat) stresses some points with the group. (l-r) Rolando Brimon, MARPO Castilla; Joli Griego, MSWDO; Herman Z. Ongkiko, Project Management Advisor/ARCP2 Deputy Nat’l Project Coordinator; Liza B. Repotente, CARPO-PBDD; Flavio L. M. Fretas, Brazilian Consultant; and Vicente Matamorosa, farmer.

(1)Flavio L. M. Fretas sharing with the Castilla LGU Officials and DAR people the experience of Brazil regarding similar program “Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty” which has been a success.

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6 JULY-AUGUST 2014

ALL 32 ARB ORGANIZATIONS (ARBOs) in Catanduanes were represented by their Chairmen and Project Managers during a CARP Stakeholders’ Forum aimed to ventilate development needs of Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) and access them face-to-face with agencies present such as DOLE, PCA, FIDA, TESDA, DOST, LBP, DTI, and OPAg. The ARBOs were assisted each by 14 Development Facilitators (DFs) in the activity held at Rhaj Inn, Virac, Catanduanes on July 24-25, 2014. The forum was facilitated by PARPO Alexander Teves, CARPO Nerisa Aldea, and the rest of the PPBDD staff. (Eduardo S. Villar)

FBs Take Oath. 15 Farmer Beneficiaries from Barangays Cabitan, Alas and Batuan in Mandaon, Masbate took their oath before Hon. Judge Renante N. Bacolod, MCTC for Mandaon and Balud, and signed their Application to Purchase and Farmer’s Undertaking (APFU) for four landholdings consisting an aggregate area of 58.1165 hectares. Of the 50 FBs scheduled to take oath, only 15 were accommodated, while the oath taking of the remaining 35 FBs was rescheduled to September 15, 2014. MARPO Augusto A. Alba of DARMO-Mandaon IIassisted the FBs during the oath taking activity. (Ross A. Lustestica)

TRAINING ON CAPABILITY BUILDING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT. The Department of Agrarian Reform in tandem with the Catanduanes State University Extension Service conducted the three-day training on Capability Building and Entrepreneurial Development for Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations from the 11 municipalities in Catanduanes. The live-in activity was conducted at the CSU Little Theater on July 29-31, 2014. Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer-II Alexander Teves of the DAR and CSU President Dr. Minerva I. Morales gave their warm greetings to all the participants during the first day of the training. CARPO and PBD Chief Nerisa Aldea of the DAR and Prof. Marilyn Panti, Director of the CSU Extension Services led the pool of facilitators from both agencies. The training is one of the institutional support activities for the rural community organizations organized by the DAR in the province to let them become adept with farm management, enhanced product marketing, farm planning and budgeting and enterprise development. (Eduardo S. Villar)

ARB OATH-TAKING. Sixteen (16) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of eight (8) landholdings in Inang, Pilar, Sorsogon covering a total of 65.5675 hectares take oath in front of Hon. Arnel P. Cezar, MTC Judge for Pilar, Sorsogon. Assisting them were Evan Ll. Retuerma, MARPO of Pilar, and Ave s. Briones, ARPT/DF. (Alura A. Jaso)

AJD PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT. To be able to respond more dynamically in the face of growing developments in CARPER implementation, the province of Catanduanes conducted its first Legal-PARAD Assessment at Puraran Beach, Baras, Catanduanes early this year. The joint activity called on other DAR pillar representatives in the province from LTI, STOD, Information and PARPO’s Offices. Leading the affair were PARAD Raddy Tolentino (on microphone), and Chief Legal, Atty. Zaldy Monilla.(Eduardo S. Villar)

3 P’s: People, Planet, and Profit – this is the main concept of Social Entrepreneurship shared by the Social Entrepreneurship Development Partnership, Inc. (SEDPI) to SAFADECO on August 12, 2014. SEDPI is the DAR’s partner in the conduct of coaching and provision of technical assistance on social entrepreneurship to selected agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs). In Sorsogon, the chosen ARBO is the Salvacion Farmers’ Development Cooperative which is engaged in Copra Trading. The 3Ps idea denotes that entrepreneurs must not be concerned alone in getting profit but rather be concerned also in the welfare of other people and the environment. (In this photo, DAR and SEDPI employees pose with SAFADECO Officers after the successful activity). (Alura A. Jaso)

PHOTO NEWS

ASSESSMENT CONFERENCE CUM CASE RESOLUTION AND LCMS UPDATING, July 9-11, 2014. A quarterly activity of the Legal Division to attain zero backlogs of ALI and cancellation cases, and an up-to-date case action in LCMS. Said activity also enhances the performance and accomplishment level of the legal sector. (MTV General)

7JULY-AUGUST 2014

ARBs AMORTIZE.The DAR Municipal Office of Masbate City/Mobo has been conducting information drive and campaign to continually encourage Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) to make good on their land amortization responsibility to the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). As a result of this effort, several ARBs of Barangay Bayombon and Igang met with LBP Analyst II Rico A. Cortes at the DARPO - Masbate conference room to pay their annual land amortization. OIC-MARPO Edwin C. Yanzon of DARMO-Masbate City also attended the meeting. (Ross A. Lustestica)

PHOTO NEWSARCP II Projects. Camarines Sur PARPO II Leonito M. Gaveria, the concurrent ARCP II Provincial Manager (4th from right) formally turned over to the DepEd representative the newly constructed two classroom school building worth Php2.0 million. Said ceremony was witnessed by Tigaon mayor Arnie B. Fuentebella, and Camarines Sur 4th District Congressman Wimpy B. Fuentella (6th& 5th from right), DepEd teachers, and DAR personnel.

A Day Care Center, a project under the ARCP II,was likewise turned over to the people of Tigaon, Cam. Sur on the same day. (Joey D. Co)

(1)SDC class picture with resource speaker Atty. Daisy Bragais, Director III of CSC RO5; (2) Participants engrossed in one of the workshops during the Supervisory Development Course (SDC) Tracks 2/3 on August 12-15, 2014 at Ninong’s Hotel, Legazpi City.

The course was designed and developed for first line supervisors to enhance their supervisory skills, management know-how and understanding the roles of a supervisor. Modules included were leadership, becoming a performer, relationships with subordinates, empowerment for both supervisors and subordinates and making powerful presentations. (Noel Orense)

The Adorinos are members of the San Isidro Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (SIARBECO), a cooperative in San Isidro-an agrarian reform community (ARC) that was organized and supported by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Remegia, through the years, has been a staunch supporter of the positions her husband held and organizations where he is a member such as the PTA of San Isidro Elementary School, Augorio Adorino being the longest termer president (1970-1990), Barangay Treasurer of Barangay San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz (1968-1992), Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) of San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz chairman from 1990 until 2010. He is also the first BOD Chairman of the San Isidro Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIMPCO) now SIARBECO chairman (1990-2004), three-term municipal councilor of San Lorenzo Ruiz (1992-2004), and Barangay Captain of San Isidro from 2010 to present.

“Our contribution to the community does not stop in our barangay. We also contribute to the town of San Lorenzo Ruiz. My husband is considered the ‘Father of Dispersal Program’ in San Lorenzo because of the ordinances he passed on dispersal of tilapia fingerling, carabao, and swine, and vegetable seeds dispersal as chairman of the committee on agriculture,” Remegia explained. “He also sponsored the resolution on the establishment of Potable Water System Level II in San Isidro which the barangay is enjoying now,” she added.

Augorio as BARC chairman mediates in tenancy relationship cases and other land problems. He and the other members of BARC help and recommend to DAR who to choose as CARP beneficiaries or ARBs.

As a result of their blood, sweat, and tears, their nine (9) children have all studied up to the college level. Melecia Adorino-Ibasco graduated BS Education at the Colegio de Sta. Isabel in Naga City and is presently the Principal of the biggest and the central school in Daet, Camarines Norte, the Daet Elementary School. The only son Miguel reached 2nd year in College of Engineering at the University of Nueva Caceres. Melinda AdorinoAbastillasis also a BS Education graduate and currently an elementary school principal. Milagros Adorino-Cuaño is a registered midwife and because teaching profession runs in their blood she also further her study and is now teaching at Daet Elementary School. Minerva however is a registered nurse and presently the company nurse and Board Secretary of the Camarines Norte Water District. Miriam Adorino-Rosento is a graduate of BS in Business Administration, among the siblings, she gets the taste of her father Augorio who has been in the realm of public service for almost 2 decades now. Miriam like her father is now on her third term as Municipal Council of the town of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte. Melanie is a graduate of Animal Science and now works as caregiver in Toronto, Canada. Melody Adorino-Abando is also a registered nurse and serves as Public Health Nurse at Department of Education. The youngest MelitaAdorino-Mirasol just like her older sisters is also a registered nurse and now works as Nurse in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In fact, Augorio is also a potential Agrarian Reform Beneficiary. A potential ARB has been identified by DAR, with the land under process for transfer to Adorino.

As a housewife, and ARB, too, Remegia manages and sustains the farms and the agricultural program in their barangay. Their backyard vegetable farm is a model farm in San Isidro obtaining for them the “Gulayan sa Barangay” assistance from the provincial government of Camarines Norte. “I take part in trainings for my own education and to help me sustain and manage the farms and the backyard garden,” she confessed.

Of the numerous trainings the Adorinos have attended the following are the most notable because they had a major impact on ARBs and their barangay: Seminar on Street watch movement, focus on drug abuse, environment and other crimes, Training course on Pili Production & Processing, Post Harvest Development Orientation & Planning Workshop, Carabao/Cattle upgrading Program, Coop training for Community Organizing Volunteers,Disaster Management Training for barangays, Ecosystem/Ecological Awareness Seminar, SALT (Sloping Agricultural Land Technology).

Augorio was given the Gawad Karangalan sa Paglalaan ng Kakayahan by San Lorenzo Ruiz LGU because of his selfless service and admirable leadership and leading an exemplary political, social, cultural, business life for 15 years.

As stated by Remegia, it took a lot of hardwork to reach the state they are in today. They went through many typhoons and floods, that lowered production of their coconut trees especially during typhoon Rosing in 1995.

The Adorinos were able to build a decent house, bought a car, bought some agricultural lands. What’s keeping them busy with at present is the land preparation of another hectares of pineapple plantation in the barangay. Their family is one of the regular suppliers of pineapple fruit in Metro Manila every harvest time. Calamities aside, they shone, the biggest success they consider is being able to put all nine children to school. Their grandchildren are all in school, some already out of college with their own careers. (Nilla P. Lagatuz)

T he Ado r i no A f fa i r---------------------------------------------------- cont. from pg. 8

(success story of a husband & wife tandem)

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Bicol’s Agrarian Reform Information ServiceA bi-monthly publication of the Department of Agrarian Reform

Regional Office 5, Lakandula Drive, Gogon Legazpi City

EDITORIAL STAFFMARIA TRINISE VASQUEZ-GENERAL

Editor

JAKE L. ROLDANLay-out/Graphic Artist

SENIOR WRITERS

GEORGE P. OLAYRESAlbay

NILLA P. LAGATUZCamarines Norte

JOSE D. COCamarines Sur A

CARLA R. YUCamarines Sur B

EDUARDO S. VILLARCatanduanes

ROSS A. LUSTESTICAMasbate

ALURA A. JASOSorsogon

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS

LUIS B. BUENO, JR.Regional Director

RODRIGO O. REALUBIT, CESO IVOIC-Director III

ATTY. LEO MIGUEL A. RAMOSOIC-Director III

For inquiries, please write or call the DAR Regional Office:

480-5180 local 198 480-5181

darro5info@yahoo.com

facebook.com/DARRegion5

JULY-AUGUST 2014

Pursuant to Special Order No. 273 Series of 2014 dated July 18, 2014, Atty. Generoso Alejo P. Villareal, outgoing Provincial Adjudicator of Albay, officially turned-over the key of responsibility to Atty. Raddy T. Tolentino, outgoing Provincial Adjudicator of Sorsogon, in a simple ceremony held last August 19, 2014 at the CARP Development Center, Rawis, Legazpi City.

The occasion was graced by Atty. Leo Miguel Ramos, Asst. Regional Director for Admin and Finance, Atty. Alberto A. Besinal, OIC-RARAD, PARPO-I Estreluna G. Ante, Atty. Zaldy Ll. Monilla, Chief, Legal Division of Albay, CARPO Minda G. Pineda. Also present was the staff of PARAD Sorsogon and

PARAD Albay as well as other personnel both from the DAR Provincial Office of Albay and the DAR Regional Office.

In his acceptance speech, PARAD Raddy T. Tolentino emphasized that while he is more than willing and ready to accept the responsibility, he will be constantly needing the support of both the provincial and regional offices of DAR for him to accomplish what is expected of him. He also added that he will “dispense justice in accordance with the mandate of the law”. He also extended his gratitude to his staff in PARAD Sorsogon which was his first official assignment after his appointment as Provincial Adjudicator.

On the other hand, PARAD GeneresoAlejo P. Villareal welcomed the new assignment as part of life’s challenge. He said that, “we must be able to see ourselves as a potential “solution” to the needs and dreams of others – and not see them just as a potential “solution” to our own needs or dreams. Treating people right means putting their needs first and actually seeing yourself as the answer they have been searching for. If they stick around, you likely are

treating them correctly. But if they keep disappearing, you may not be treating them right. When you treat people right, they feel better about themselves when they are with us. When we seek to serve first and realize our rewards in proportion to how well we serve, we will be prosperous indeed.”

With the third quarter of 2014 almost finished and the fourth quarter just around the corner, OIC-RARAD Alberto A. Besinal and ARDA Leo Miguel Ramos expressed theiroverwhelming support to the transition as part of the DARAB’s mandate to promote just, expeditious and inexpensive adjudication and settlement of agrarian cases, disputes and controversies.(Maria Flora A. Serra, Clerk of the Board, PARAD Albay).

JUSTICE FOR ALL. Hon.Raddy Tolentino, newly installed PARAD in Albay, accepts the key of responsibility from Hon. Gene Villareal, who has been assigned as Presiding Adjudicator of Sorsogon and Catanduanes. Also in photo are (L-R) Albay OIC-PARPO I Estreluna Ante, OIC-ARDA Leo Miguel Ramos & RARAD Alberto Besinal to witness the occasion.

PARAD turn-over of responsibilities

Through sheer grit and determination, faith in God, and theblessing of Agrarian Reform, a farmer was able to rise above her status in life to become the success that she is now. Yes, farmers can make it. Remegia Rafer Abraham Adorino and her husband Augorio did. Her story is both inspiring and do able, with a little help from some friends.

Remegiaor “Tia Mia” did not get a college education, she only finished elementary, because her family was so poor and there were eleven of them siblings. This made Tia Mia determined to let her children get a degree, no matter what, even if she and her husband were only “lowly farmers.”

Born on October 1, 1943 in Vinzons, Camarines Norte to Paula Arce Rafer and Rafael Acal Abraham, both farmers, Tia Mia got married at the young age of 17 on June 18, 1960.Thus, typical of couples who marry young, Remegia and Augorio Balce Adorino had nine children. But lo! Eight of the nine children finished their college education. If only for that accomplishment, Tia Mia can now sit back, smile, and consider herself a successful person.

But no, she has a farm to till and a story to tell. She needs to inspire and move people by her exemplary life.

“It was a hard life back then. Farming was a tough job. Everything, from land preparation to harvesting, was done manually,” Tia Mia recalled. But farming was the only work they knew, they had no other choice.

The Adorino couple worked as farm workers in the landholding of Agustina Elep in Vinzons from 1960-1970 occupying an area of 3.5 hectares of unirrigated riceland. While tending the Riceland in Vinzons, they also worked on a coconut land in their place in barangay San Isidro San Lorenzo Ruiz.

They did not use fertilizers and pesticides, and irrigation was purely “sahodulan” or dependent on rain. Harvesting and threshing was through “pagiik

ng kalabaw.” Even so, they did not have their own carabao and had to rent one.

“Paghati” was the sharing or tenancy agreement with the landowner then, which means the tenant and the landowner had a 50-50 sharing arrangement in all expenses and produce.

They lived in Barangay San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz which is 50 kilometers away from the land they tilled in Vinzons. Inspite of the distance between the farm and their residence, Remegia’s husband Augorio always made it a point to go home to San Isidro everyday to look after his family. “We almost gave up,” said Remegia. They even decided at one point to surrender the 3.5 hectares of land to the landowner because of the hardships they faced in tilling the land.

While her husband farmed in Vinzons, she planted rootcrops like camote which she sold in the market. “In our determination to have our own carabao, we farmed the land well,” Remegia narrated, “With the help of God we were able to buy our own carabao after one year.”

They went of farming in Vinzons and after ten years they were able to buy their own piece of farmland in San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz. They also gave up farming the land in Vinzons to concentrate on their own land when the children were growing up and studying. But due to taxing financial demand for the education of their children, they had to sell the piece of land they acquired to sustain their children’s education.

In 2005, their life turned around with her receipt of the Certificate of Landownership Award

(CLOA) through the Voluntary Land Transfer of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or Republic Act No. 6657 of the government.

In the less than one hectare of land they got from the CARP, though small, they planted it with coconuts, rootcrops, bananas, pineapples, and vegetables. “The land we received through CARP was a big help in our lives. It may be small but it helped a lot in the education of our children,” she enthused.

The farmland and the land awarded by CARP helped the Adorino children finish their studies. “We all helped in sending the children to school. When the eldest graduatedshe helped the youngest through school, and so on. Everything was because of our sweat and effort in farming,” she shared, and because her husband has always been a barangay official, almost all of her kids were barangay scholars.

The scholarships were not enough for tuition fees so they had to work hard, indeed, and even if eight (8) of the nine (9) children were girls, they would help in farming during vacations.

--------------- cont. on pg. 7

FEATURE

(success story of a husband & wife tandem)The Ador ino Af fa i r