SoCot farmers’ group receives utility vehicle from DAR

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over a utility vehicle to Silway 8 Diversified & Livelihood Association, Inc., a DAR-assisted agrarian reform beneficiary association (ARBO) from Silway 8, Polomolok, South Cotabato to help its members improve their livelihood activities.

The P300,000 worth of farm machinery is provided under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) Program, a government initiative aimed at mitigating hunger, ensuring food and nutrition security, and reducing poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized areas.

DAR Assistant Regional Director H. Roldan Ali, Al-Hajj, said through the PAHP program, government institutions and institutional buyers team up to buy products directly from the association to lessen poverty in the countryside and help address the country’s food security.

“Aside from having a utility vehicle for the delivery of their commodities, the DAR links them to various partner agencies and institutional buyers to have a marketing agreement and a sure market for the ARBO’s agricultural products,” he said.

Ali reminded the ARBO members to take good care of the vehicle and utilize it according to the goals of the PAHP Program and make sure to satisfy the purpose of the vehicle, which is to deliver commodities to its partners.

ARBO President Sandy Ricaborda expressed his gratitude to the DAR and the PAHP program for granting them the vehicle.

“On behalf of the association, we assure you that we are committed to use the utility vehicle according to its purpose. This machinery is a big help in our daily transactions in the delivery of commodities such as vegetable and poultry products,” he said.