The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Tuesday turned over hauling trucks to two agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in Leyte province to expand their farming business.

The two 15-foot dropside six-wheelers have a combined value of PHP3.99 million sourced from the agrarian reform fund (ARF).

Rodrigo Alumbro, president of the Canmarating, Odiongan, Pagsang-an, Sulpa Irrigators Association in Abuyog town, said the donation turned their dream into a reality.

“We have been receiving assistance from the DAR more than we expected. We are very grateful for this and committed ourselves to take good care of this truck,” Alumbro said.

The other recipient was the Barangay Agutayan Farmers Association in Hilongos town.

DAR – Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Director Ronald Gareza represented Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III in the formal turnover at the DAR regional office here.

Gareza disclosed that the present administration restored the ARF to finance assistance projects for the agrarian reform beneficiaries.

For 2023 alone, Gareza said, PHP7.5 billion had been earmarked under the ARF to implement the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs) project.

The two ARBOs are the initial recipients of the SuRe ARCs project in the Eastern Visayas region.

Gareza explained to the recipients that the project is being implemented purposely to finance projects for areas planted with rice, corn, and coconut. (PNA)