The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Sarangani recently turned over Php62-million worth of infrastructure projects to boost the agricultural productivity of the agrarian reform beneficiaries in this town.
The infrastructure projects include the rehabilitation of Sitio Basak to Sitio Lambalot farm-to-market road (FMR) in Barangay Upper Biangan; road opening of Sitio Atmorok to Kili Datal FMR in Datal Batong; road opening of Sitio Malbulig to Brgy. Kibala Proper FMR; and construction of potable water system level 2 in Brgy. Datal Batong and Brgy. Datal Bila.
DAR-12 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Rodolfo T. Alburo said the four (4) Community Infrastructure Development Support Subprojects were implemented through the Italian Assistance to Agrarian Reform Communities Development Support Program (IARCDSP), a peace project funded by the Italian Government, focusing its efforts on rural development starting at the agrarian reform communities.
“The principle behind these projects is for the improvement of the lives of the agrarian reform beneficiaries and their families. We need to empower them because farmers are the frontliners of the country’s food security,” Alburo said.
The farmers expressed their gratitude to the local government of Malungon and the partnership of DAR and IARCDSP as they perceived that these projects would help them gain easy access to various markets and trade centers for their farm produce.
The beneficiaries recalled that for many years, after their hard work in nurturing their field, they have sacrificed most of their time, sweat, and effort to transport their farm produce.
DAR OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Cenon S. Original expressed his gratitude to the LGU for their financial counterpart and commitment to implement the projects. He thanked the agrarian reform communities as well, pointing out that the department cannot fully serve in its full capacity without their support.
