BACOLOD City – More than 7,000 aid packages were distributed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to farmer-beneficiaries in Negros Occidental amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
It was done through the agency’s “The PaSSOver: ARBold Move to Heal as One Deliverance of our ARBs from the COVID-19 Pandemic” project.
Each aid package contained rice, canned goods, noodles, and hygiene kits.
DAR has two provincial offices in Negros Occidental, each focusing on the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the north and south.
Teresita Mabunay, provincial agrarian reform program officer II of DAR-Negros Occidental I (North), said on Tuesday that the master plan of food provision during the pandemic was realized because the agency was concerned for the welfare of the farmers.
“We just distributed simple food packs but we believe and understand these would go a long way to sustain them during these difficult times,” she added.
During the project run on May 21 to 29, DAR-Negros Occidental I was able to distribute 3,716 food packs to farmer-beneficiaries in cities such as Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, San Carlos, Bacolod and in municipalities of Murcia, Don Salvador Benedicto, E.B. Magalona, and Manapla.
Meanwhile, the DAR-Negros Occidental II (South) distributed a total of 3,615 aid packages to various municipalities and cities under its area of coverage as of May 29.
The recipients were ARBs in Bago City, Valladolid, Pontevedra, La Carlota City, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Hinamaylan City, Binalbagan, Kabankalan City, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, Sipalay City, and Hinobaan.
Arnulfo Figueroa, officer-in-charge provincial agrarian reform program officer of DAR-Negros Occidental II, said they aim to extend assistance to ARBs and their respective organizations to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19
The project was the DAR’s response to Republic Act 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act to support the ARBs who are front-liners in food security.(With a report from PNA/PN)
