Over one million farmer-beneficiaries nationwide are now experiencing improved quality of life through the government’s Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Sustainability Program that offers infrastructure development, training, livelihood, access to markets and financing.
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to support agrarian reform beneficiaries even after land distribution.
DAR had fast tracked issuance of land titles and condonation of debts through the distribution of certificates of land ownership award, electronic titles and certificates of condonation with release of mortgage.
“We were able to deliver a wide range of support services. In addition to our collaboration with Agriculture \ Secretary Francisco Laurel and the construction of farm-to-market roads, we are also providing irrigation projects. Not only that, we are also distributing farm machineries and equipment. In fact, because of our continued support, many agrarian reform cooperatives are now thriving,” Estrella said.
As of last May 31, DAR, in collaboration with the National Irrigation Administration, has completed 213 irrigation projects across the country.
Of these projects, 167 are fully operational, while 46 are ongoing, with a combined cost of P3.032 billion.
These systems currently irrigate 9,897.58 hectares of land, improving agricultural productivity for 8,443 ARBs.
DAR has also completed 340 farm-to-market roads covering 281.946 kilometers and benefiting 84,361 ARBs to improve mobility and access to essential services.
These projects were implemented at a cost of P4.572 billion.
An additional 237 roads, spanning 233.333 kilometers and amounting to P4.734 billion, are currently under construction and are expected to support another 35,226 ARBs once completed.
DAR distributed 6,035 units of farm machineries and equipment, along with related support facilities worth P509 million.
These were provided to 1,433 agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations, further empowering organized rural communities to scale their agricultural operations.
As of the latest count, 357,177 ARBs have availed of credit services with a total of 463,499 ARB service instances supported by P10.219 billion in funding, helping sustain their farms and smallholder operations and ‘agripreneurial’ initiatives.
