The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday distributed farm machinery and equipment (FMEs), including farm inputs worth PHP7.4 million, to 14 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) and 12 farmers’ associations in Ilocos Norte.
During the ceremonial turnover at Barangay 23 San Roque’s covered court here, DAR Ilocos Norte chief agrarian reform program officer Rommel Aquino said the platform aims to boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods, as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s continued support for farmers under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
“This comes with a collaboration with the Philippine Carabao Center, including 21 buffaloes worth PHP1.68 million,” Aquino told the Philippine News Agency in an interview at the sidelines of the event.
The farm machinery included 3 units of 4-wheel drive tractors with rotary tiller given to the Paninaan Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bacarra, San Juan Cagcag Farmers and Irrigators Association in Pasuquin and Lang-ayan Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Currimao; rice transplanter for Tanap Avis Terruvian Dam-Nagsurot-Buduan Association in Burgos; and hand tractor and water pump engine sets for Katangkayagan ARBs Farmers Association Inc. in Pagudpud and Caray Nueva Era Farmers Association, Inc.
Also, power tillers were given to the Timpuyog ti Zanjera Parparabay Farmers Association in Piddig; Mabaleng ARBs Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Nangalisan-Payao Farmers Association in Batac City; and Bacsil Irrigators Association Inc. in Paoay; a combined harvester with transport trailer for Bassit a Manayon Irrigators Association Inc. in Sarrat; and a water pump with engine set for the Alsem ARBs Farmers Association Inc. in Vintar town.
Other farmers’ organizations and cooperatives in the towns of Bacarra, Burgos, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Piddig, Sarrat, Vintar, Currimao, Nueva Era and Paoay, as well as the city of Batac, also received organic and inorganic fertilizers to improve crop production and reduce farming costs.
The initiative was implemented through DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project and the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities Program.
“These FMEs are not just tools —they symbolize the government’s trust and commitment to the development of our ARBs and rural communities,” the DAR-Ilocos Norte said in a statement. (PNA)
