DAR-7 implements community connectivity and economic support services program

By Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, June 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is implementing this year the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program. 

In a recent presscon, DAR-7 Regional Director Rodolfo Inson explained that this program aims to improve farm productivity, improve the net income of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and sustain their livelihood by improving the organizational capacities of participating Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in agri-enterprise development. 

This is in line with the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPER), he added. 

ARCCESS is an inter-sectoral partnership led by the government and participated in by state universities and colleges, civil society organizations, and private institutions which will provide a range of services that will improve the performance of the ARBO’s agri-enterprise, its access to markets and its ability to compete against other markets. 

DAR-7 has 10 ARCESS projects identified in 2011, and it shall be implemented this year. There are three projects for Bohol, four in Negros Oriental, two for Cebu and one project for Siquijor. 

The projects identified are rice, palm oil, coffee, sugarcane and coco-sugar that will benefit 17 ARBO’s, 7,185 ARBs and 2,522 non-ARBs. 

DAR-7 Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) Chief Alex Relova said for 2012, 11 projects were identified which will benefit 42 ARBOs, 4,106 ARBs and 3,363 non-ARBs. 

For 2013, 11 projects are identified that will benefit 22 ARBOs, 2,142 ARBs and 1,101 non-ARBs. 

Inson expressed appreciation to the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers for their submittal of the project proposals, which were reviewed by the DAR regional office and are now at the national level for approval and funding. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7/ & DARPO-7)