To become more competent community organizers and enterprise development facilitators, at least 109 employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 5 (Bicol) are undergoing a six-day training course on enterprise-based agrarian reform community development (E-ARCOD).

In an interview on Tuesday, Gerard Buensalida, DAR-5 spokesperson, said the training is part of the government’s active implementation of the agrarian reform program, enabling them to engage in the development interventions of the agrarian reform communities (ARCs).

“Two training sessions will take place at the Patio de San Jose Resort and Convention Center in Malilipot, Albay. The first batch, consisting of 53 participants from Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Albay, is now ongoing that started Monday, and the second batch, with 56 participants from Camarines Sur I, Camarines Sur II, and Camarines Norte, will begin next week,” Buensalida said.

He added that they would be instructed in the formulation of effective development plans and innovative strategies for the growth of ARCs and farmer organizations.

In a statement, DAR-5 Assistant Regional Director for Operations, engineer Romulo Britanico, said DAR considers the conduct of the E-ARCOD training as essential for the implementation of entrepreneurial activities in the ARCs.

Britanico said the development facilitators are responsible for improving the quality of life of the agrarian reform beneficiaries so that they can become active participants in the government’s development efforts. (PNA)