SAN JOSE, Antique – A total of 50,858 farmlands were distributed to 15,839 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in this province through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The municipality of San Remigio has the highest accomplishment in terms of land distribution reaching 18,532.7913 hectares, benefiting a total of 2,074 farmer-beneficiaries. Other leading towns where land distribution is concerned are Valderrama with 7,084.9398 hectares; Bugasong with 6,938.3925; Pandan with 5,022.98.17; Patnongon with 3,348.0418; Barbaza with 2,589.3360; and Tibiao with 2,347.1278 hectares. For leasehold operations, there are 5,487 hectares covered with 3,963 ARBs. These farmers have leasehold contracts with their landowners. The DAR has been continuing its implementation of programs and activities aimed at empowering  Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) as part of its mission in taking the lead in realizing the government’s agrarian reform and sustainable rural development in  the countryside. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

AGRO-ENTERPRISE PROGRAM LAUNCHED 

ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Local government units (LGUs) in Central Antique are the first recipients of the National Convergence Initiative (NCI) in Western Visayas, a project of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The initiative kicked off Thursday with the launch of the agro-enterprise clustering program given the LGUs' potentials for upgrading from their agri-based situation. The agro-clustering initiative is dubbed as an “efficient way to develop and stabilize agriculture and provide the focus that is needed for coordinating the provision of support services and resources.” The initiative commenced with the launch and turnover of several inputs by concerned agencies to include tramline, transplanter, power sprayer, shredder machine, upland rice seeds, abaca planting materials and vegetable seeds from the DA; farm-to-market road, irrigation and rice production project from the DAR and fruit and forest trees distribution, handog Titulo, among others, by the DENR.

VICE MAYORS ASKED TO SERVE L.G.U. INTERESTS

DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – Governor Agustin Perdices appealed Wednesday to the vice mayors of Negros Oriental for their support and cooperation so that the province can effectively achieve its development goals and improve the lives of its constituents. Perdices sounded his call as he inducted into office the newly elected officials of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines-Negros Oriental chapter. He also asked the local officials to set aside politics and unite instead, likening the teamwork of the provincial and city and municipal governments to an army of ants that make a heavy load lighter and can move forward faster if all cooperated. The vice mayors who took their oaths Thursday included Nathaniel Electona of Sta. Catalina town who was elected President. Electona, in his brief speech, assured Perdices that the League will support the province’s efforts and hopes to contribute to the realization of development at the national and local levels.