DAR confirms 3 new ARCs in Camarines Sur

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) National Agrarian Reform Community Task Force (NARCTF), led by Rowena Niña O. Taduran, Undersecretary for Support Services Office (SSO) has approved and confirmed three (3) new Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Camarines Sur.

“The DAR is strengthening its agrarian reform communities’ development program by evaluating the soundness of the development framework and relevance of the proposed programs and projects for ARCs that are up for approval and integration,” Taduran said.

She emphasized that an ARC is a barangay or cluster of contiguous barangays within a municipality where most of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)-covered lands have been awarded to a critical mass of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

The three (3) ARCs scheduled for immediate launching are the Del Gallego-Sipocot-Lupi-Ragay (DSLR) ARC Cluster, the Libmanan Coast ARC, and the Milaor-Minalabac-San Fernando (MMS) ARC Cluster, all located in Camarines Sur, the first DAR provincial office to launch three ARC/ ARC Cluster within a year.

Taduran said the submitted and approved ARC Development Plans (ARCDPs) will significantly boost agricultural productivity, improve market access, and foster sustainable practices, ultimately empowering local communities to contribute to economic growth, and maximizing the government's limited financial resources.

With a combined investment of ₱12 billion, these initiatives aim to enhance land tenure security, conduct capacity development training, implement infrastructure projects, provide farm machinery, and offer essential services to over 13,174 ARBs.

OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I Augusto Medina, Jr., OIC-Chief for SSO Gerry Matamorosa, and ARPO I Sandro Quijano successfully defended the development frameworks, receiving commendations from the NARCTF panel led by Undersecretary Taduran.

The collaborative efforts of the Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD) of DARPO Camarines Sur I ensured that the plans are comprehensive, targeted, and ready for implementation to empower the ARBs, smallholder farmers, and youth in their communities, marking a pivotal step toward