COTABATO CITY, June 7 (PNA) — On the 27th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on June 15, Moro, Lumad and Christian farmers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will receive “early Christmas” gifts as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-ARMM) will distribute farm equipment.
Amihilda Sangcopan, DAR-ARMM regional secretary, said on Sunday her office will disperse brand-new farm tractors and other farm equipment to different farmers’ organizations in the ARMM.
About 15 tractors procured by the agency’s national office, some are on display at the ARMM compound here, will be distributed during the event.
Aside from tractors, DAR-ARMM will also distribute mechanized corn husking and shelling machines as part of the package aimed at giving the farmers the opportunity to become more productive.
According to Sangcopan, the farm equipment packages are part of DAR’s Common Service Facilities program, meant to hasten the economic growth of agrarian reform communities (ARCs).
Recently, DAR-ARMM initiated a dialogue with ARCs in the region to determine what interventions are needed to help address poverty and underdevelopment in CARP areas.
Just last week, Sangcopan led the distribution of certificates of land ownership to about 100 farmers in Maguindanao, mostly relatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members.
The awarding of CLOs was held during the First Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Conference at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City. It was followed by similar activity in Basilan, one of the component provinces of ARMM aside from Maguidnanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
According to Sangcopan, the land parcels awarded to peasants in Maguindanao were part of the 112,290 hectares of arable lands in ARMM that are still subject for distribution under CARP.
She said during the anniversary of CARP, her office will also distribute CLOs aside from farm equipment. More CLOs are also up for distribution during the third and fourth quarter of 2015. (PNA)