Farmers in Carcar, others to get farm tools from CARP

CEBU, Philippines -  Farmers in Carcar City and the municipality of Sibonga will receive farming equipment from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in Cebu.

Jonathan Sinco, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) assistant regional director for operations, said DAR has approved the funding for Cebu which will come from the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services Program (ARCESS). 

Sinco said there are 2,149 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB’s) from 11 municipalities of Cebu that will benefit from the program. 

“Even non-agrarian reform beneficiaries will also benefit from the project. In the list are 1,115 of them that are in five towns,” Sinco said. 

Carcar City and Sibonga will receive P1.2 million for their farming equipment. 

The town of Asturias, which is set to receive hand tractors, power tillers, and a thresher through the lead farmer organization ‘Pundok sa Mag-uuma (PUMAG).” 

Farmers in Asturias, Toledo City, and Pinamungahan town will receive a total of P4.3 million for their enhanced rice project. 

Bogo City and Medellin town of the 4th district will receive four tractors worth P2.580 million for their Enhanced Sugarcane and Vegetable Production. 

The town of Argao, Ronda, and Moalboal will collectively receive P1.2 million.

In the fifth district, only one town is a beneficiary, Liloan, which will receive P2.2 million for a Milking Park Plant. 

ARCESS is an inter-sectoral partnership program involving the government, state universities, colleges, civil society organizations, and private sector organizations, which aims to provide a range of services to ARB organizations including access to markets and competing capabilities. 

CARP is extended for another five years because of the difficulty in land acquisition and distribution. The program started in 1988.  (FREEMAN)