ICYMI: 100 ARBs graduate from DAR Farm Business School program

Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan – More than a hundred graduates of the Farm Business School (FBS) program of the Department of Agrarian Reform may officially call themselves agri-entrepreneurs.

106 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) were awarded their respective certificates of completion after persevering in a productive series of 25 training sessions that developed their entrepreneurial skillset and mindset. More than just learning in theory, the FBS graduates were also required to participate in the program’s “learning-by-doing” exercises, which included benchmarking and group marketing, among many others.

The 31 ARBs of Baksayan Irrigators & Farmers Association, Inc. of Umingan, 35 ARBs from Aliguas Dumaralos na Buenlag, Inc. of Calasiao, and 40 ARBs from Artacho Farmers Association of Bautista hailed from three different batches of the FBS.

PARPO II Charlotte F. Lasmarias assured the graduates that the DAR will not cease in supporting them as they embark on their journey to become full-fledged farmer-entrepreneurs.

“Kami sa DAR po ay tutulong hangga’t makakaya namin. Hindi po namin kayo pababayaan. Kaya tayo may mga ganito na activity sa DAR, para maibigay po namin yung serbisyo at yung mga training na kailangan niyo,” PARPO II Lasmarias said.

Regional Director Maria Ana B. Francisco also assured the ARBs of more programs under the DAR.

“Hindi lang po pamamahagi ng lupa, hindi lang po pagte-training sa inyo to become better farmers, but to ensure na may sustainability po yung project natin. Ganoon po ang ginagawa ng DAR ngayon. Holistic po siya,” RD Francisco said. “In behalf of our Secretary, kami po ay nagagalak that we have graduates coming from Pangasinan.”

Also present during the graduation were OIC-CARPO of Beneficiaries Capacity Development Division - Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Rogente D. Dioneda, National FBS Focal Person Chris Roland M. Hebron, and Bautista Municipal Agriculturist Ernesto M. Dorado.

Previous beneficiaries of the FBS include Banerle Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Sta. Barbara, Taloy Guilig Women and Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative of San Fabian, Catablan Credit Cooperative of Urdaneta City, Bantog Samahang