Official Newsletter of the Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office 5

1. 1
DAR Bicol to distribute
more than 30,000 hectares
of land for 2014
Photo NewsPAGE 6
ARCCESS: a pioneering
breakthrough in Bicol agriculture
On Page 3
On Page 2
PAGE 2 DAR Provides
P3.75-M Infra For
Cam Sur Farmers
PAGE 4 Burabod ARC
Thrives With
Potable Water and
Free Cooking Gas
PAGE 5 DARVOptimistic
with Optool

2. 2
Local farmers and residents of Ocampo,
Camarines Sur are now enjoying brisk economic
activities following the construction of the
Sitio Francia farm-to-market road (FMR) worth
P3 million under the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP).
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Ramon B. Fuentebella
recently led the turnover of the road along with Camarines
Sur Rep. Leni Robredo to the local government of Ocampo.
The concreting of the 300-meter Sitio Francia FMR is
part of the 1.5-kilometer access road funded through the
DAR-Agrarian Reform Support Project (ARSP), a joint
undertaking of the Philippines government and the European
Union (EU) in 1997.
Fuentebella said that more than 700 agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs) and the residents of Ocampo and its
neighboring towns now benefit from the road as it shortens
the route from May-ogob to Pinit and Ocampo by 10
kilometers. “Unlike before people used to pass through
four barangays, which covers about 15 kilometers, before
reaching Pinit and Ocampo towns,” said Fuentebella.
“This road will lessen transportation cost of farmers and
residents and reduce travel time to the market centers,”
added Fuentebella.
In the same occasion, the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR) also turned over a 420 sq.
meter solar dryer that was accessed by the
DAR through the Department of Agriculture
(DA).
The Sitio Francia road project and the
solar dryer were funded under the Farm
Mechanization Project of the DA while the
concreting of the FMR road was part of the
convergence initiative of the DAR and DA.
“The flat-bed solar dryer worth P 750,000
is a big help for our 185 ARBs in Ocampo.
They now dry their harvested palay on
concrete instead of drying them on soil. The
concrete speeds up the drying process and its
more hygienic,” Fuentebella said.
Rep. Robredo, expressed joy for the
infrastructure projects that DAR has afforded
to Camarines Sur.
The DAR assisted the May-Ogob Agrarian
Reform Cooperative in preparing their
documents for the realization of the Sitio
Francia road and the solar dryer which was
endorsed by Robredo to the Department of
Agriculture for funding in 2013. (PAMRS w/
reports from Carla Yu)
ON THE COVER
Ferdinand U. Takata, Technical Staff of Agri
Components Co. (center) instructs the
members of Kamanitohan ARC Irrigators
Association (KARCIA) on the proper loading
of rice seedlings using the mechanical rice
transplanter during their field demonstration at
one of the rice fields in Barangay Pawa, Manito,
Albay on Januar y 24, 2014.
The activity is part the on-going Agrarian
Reform Community Connectivity and Economic
Support Ser vices (ARCCESS) Project dubbed as
“Modernized Rice Production, Processing and
Marketing in Kamanitohan ARC, Manito, Albay.
Camanitohan ARC in Manito, Albay was launched in
1993 covering the barangays of Buyo and Cawayan. In
2000, the ARC was expanded covering the barangays
of Cabacong, Malobago, Tinapian, Bamban, Pawa, and
Balasbas.
Like any other farmer groups in the communities, the
Kamanitohan ARC Irrigators Association (KARCIA) in Pawa,
Manito, Albay longs for a strong, progressive and dynamic
community with empowered people’s organizations.
With the implementation of Agrarian Reform Community
Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS)
program, another hope is born that put stars in their eyes to
mobilize and work together to realize their goals.
DAR Albay Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II
Engr. Romulo A. Britanico said he is impressed by the way
of cooperation shared between the officers of KARCIAwith
regard to ARCCESS Program. “It’s amazing to see them all
(officers) present every time we call for a meeting considering
their pending farming activities and distance to be traveled
to reach our office.” PARPO II Britanico expressed.
The Kamanitohan ARC Irrigators Association (KARCIA)
is fortunate when their proposed project dubbed as
Modernized Rice Production and Marketing was included
in the first batch of approved ARCCESS projects in the
province of Albay. Through ARCCESS, their association
was awarded with2 units of hand tractor with implements,
2 units of reaper, 1 unit of thresher, 2 units of mechanical
transplanter, 1 unit of seed conveyor, and 8,000 pcs of rice
seedling tray. These common service facilities amounting
to PhP 2.1 M will benefit 262 rice farmers covering 100
hectares of irrigated rice farms. This is aside from various
trainings that are identified in the Needs Assessment and
Design Analysis (NADA) conducted by the Bicol University
Extension Services that will include trainings/mentoring on
organizational development, agri-production technology,
enterprise management and marketing, among others. All
these will be addressed through provision of Professional
Service Provider (PSP), another component of ARCCESS
that includes agri-extension services, business development
services, and process documentation.
With experienced operators, the machine can transplant
four (4) hectares of rice paddies for eight-hour day operation.
According to KARCIA President Honorato Poche with
constant practice in the use of the mechanical transplanter,
transplanting will be made fast and easy for rice farmers.
“What we like in this machine is its capacity to create equal
seedling distances and equal number of seedlings per hill
which facilitate harvesting and reduces quantity of seed
requirements on a hectare basis.” Poche declared.
The implementation of ARCCESS project in Camanitohan
ARC is a pioneering breakthrough in modern agriculture in
the province of Albay. With this project, it is projected that
covered farmers will generate a net income of
PhP20,000.00which is 178.3 percent higher than the
traditional way of farming. (George P. Olayres)
ARCCESS: a pioneering
breakthrough in Bicol agriculture
Cover Story
DAR Provides P3.75-M Infra For Cam Sur Farmers
DAR CS II OIC-PARPO Ramon B. Fuentebella with Congresswoman for
District III Leni Robredo during the inauguration of the 300-m Farm-
to-Market-Road at Sitio Francia, May-ogob which was sourced out by
DARPO CS II, PBD through the Department of Agriculture. The access
road shortens route from May-ogob to Pinit and Ocampo town by 10
kms. Where before, four barangays were traversed to reach Ocampo
(Hanawan, Pinit, Hibago, San Francisco) from May-ogob which covers
about 15 kms, now the access road goes straight to Pinit and Ocampo.
This benefits 300 farmer-beneficiaries in transporting their produce to
the main town with less transport cost, cheaper goods to the consumers
and increase in income for the farmers

3. 3
The newly elected Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee
(PARCCOM) Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) in the province of
Camarines Norte have formally taken their oath of office on January
16, 2014 before DAR Regional Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr. The PSRs
also underwent a 3-day Orientation
& Enhancement Seminar on
February 23-24, 2014 at DARPO
Conference Hall, Daet, Camarines
Norte spearheaded by the Provincial
Program Beneficiaries and
Development Division (PPBDD)
headed by CARPO Salve Noami Lo
and PARPO II Engr. Jesus Dela
Rosa. This orientation has been
part of the process of learning given
by the DAR Management to the
new officers and a sort of review
and update to the re-elected
representatives to acclimatize
themselves to the goings-on
of the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP) as amended by CARP
Extension with Reforms
(CARPER) or R.A. 9700 in
Camarines Norte. The
orientation seminar were
graced by Regional Director
Luis Bueno and Asst.
Regional Director for
Operations Rod Realubit
who found time to interact
with the group of newbie representatives and shed light on some queries directed to
them. The new batch of PARCCOM Officers will serve until 2016 as policy formulating
and monitoring body of the Department of Agrarian Reform as mandated by
Administrative Order No. Series of 1997. (ningpercillagatuz)
“What we are going to do today
is the equivalent of street to
street, house to house fighting. This
time around I am going to do it on
a per landholding basis, we’re going
to look at your data bases. We’re
going around all over each town,
each province so by the end of the
session, we can already look at what
we need to deliver and find out if
it’s really doable or not,” stated
DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes
during his visit in Bicol for the Back
to Back Recalibration & Validation
on Land Tenure Service (LTS) &
Technical Advisory and Support
Services (TASS) at the La Roca
Suites & Restaurant in Legazpi City,
February 3-4, 2014.
The outspoken Secretary is resolute
in his stand to finish the acquisition and
distribution of still close to one million
hectares of lands, hence he has been going
around each region with the two teams from
the Field Operations Office, to validate the
targets by reviewing the nature and status of
the LAD balances; to closely scrutinize every
landholding and determine what hinders
the attainment of the targets, to ensure the
accuracy of the deliverables this year.
He implored
to achieve the
targets set because
“it is ungainly that
targets go out the
bottom line only
to be reduced by
the time June
comes and by the
time December
rolls around, the
excuses of previous
years, play a sad
refrain.”
The Department has a commitment of
more than 300,000 hectares of lands to
be distributed this year and Bicol will play
a significant role in its realization since a
big portion of the share will come from the
region.
DAR Bicol has a total target of 31,484
hectares of lands for distribution this year
which comprises the LAD interrupted and
pipeline in 2013, and new lands for 2014.
During his interview with the media,
delos Reyes said that the slow turn out in
the land
distribution
in Bicol for
the past
year is not
m a i n l y
because of the landowners’ resistance
but more on the various technical problems
and erroneous or unavailability of documents
that hound the documentation process. One
case is the destruction of land titles when
the office of the Registry of Deeds (ROD)
in Camarines Sur hit fire a few years back.
Because of this, retitling of lands is necessary
and would entail further research, and in a
number of instances, have to be reconstituted
by the courts. Not to mention that said
province shares the largest chunk when it
comes to the volume in LAD coverage in the
region, hence, such feat (retitling) requires
more time to accomplish. Moreover, small
landholdings are predominant in the region
which is more taxing and complex to cover.
When asked whether the Department
would be able to meet the set deadline in
the land and acquisition program, delos
Reyes honestly declared that it will really be
hard but quickly assured that the remaining
balance will proceed its distribution even
after June 2014.
Section
30 of RA
9700 states
that land
acquisition
and distribution may proceed for
landholdings with pending proceedings
even after the June 2014. A DOJ opinion
concurs with this view and furthermore, the
2014 General Appropriations Act bolsters
this view.
On Program Beneficiaries Development
side, the Secretary emphasized the need
for flexibility and adherence to the call of
change. “Times have changed, situations
have changed. We must learn to adapt. It
is time we change things,” he said.
Secretary delos Reyes explained
that when giving interventions, we
must remember who are our target
beneficiaries are; times change and
people change thus interventions
must be fitting to the present times.
The Department has enough
resources, and funds for support
services are now readily made
available for the FBs, but we need
more coaches to work on our
farmer-beneficiaries, he said.
“Gone are the days when we
would only act as trainers but this time,
we should be coaches.” He elaborated that
trainers are different from coaches; trainers
are present before the game while coaches
are part of the game and play the game.
With Secretary delos Reyes,
Undersecretary for Field Operations Jose
Grageda and Undersecretary for Support
Services Rosalina Bistoyong were also in
attendance for the two-day activity, to act as
panelists for the FOO and SSO workshop
presentation, respectively.
Usec. Grageda imparted that DAR’s
CY2013 accomplishment is highest
under the present Administration and
that the Compulsary Acquisition (CA)
accomplishment is highest in seven years,
from 2006. He also shared that 32
provinces achieved or exceeded target and
these provinces contributed 75% of total
accomplishment.
Moreover, he stressed that DAR
strategizes to improve the land tenure
security of the ARBs, establish a stable
agrarian property rights regime and create a
sustainable livelihood for ARBs.
“Clearly, CARP implementation or Land
Tenure Improvement (LTI) is not simply a
numbers game,” Grageda said. (mtvgeneral)
ON THE SPOTLIGHT. Secretary Gil de
los Reyes talks to the local media about
DAR’s plans for the year.
“Times have changed, situations have changed.
We must learn to adapt. It is time we change things.”
-Secretary Gil de los Reyes
DAR Bicol to distribute more than 30,000 hectares of land for 2014
Cam. Norte PARCCOM PSRs take oath, attend
orientation & enhancement seminar
MORE HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE. USEC Jose Z. Grageda (second
from left) of the Field Operations Office discusses some issues with SEC Virgilio
delos Reyes (fourth from left), Engr. Joey G. Sumatra (third from left) Assistant
Director of the Bureau of Land Tenure and Improvement, Luis Bueno Regional
Director of Region 5 (far right) and Samuel R. Ongcal Jr. (far left) PARPO of
Masbate .
DAR Regional Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr. (rightmost)
administers the oath to the newly elected
PARCCOM Private Sector Representatives (L-R)
Edison Sierte, Gil Del Barrio, Atty. Pet Español,
Vicente Raviz, Edgar Lamadrid & Salvacion Dizon.
A THUMBS-Up for the new set of PARCCOM Private
Sector Representatives (L-R) PARCCOM Secretariat Annie
Gadil, Edgar Lamadrid (Cultural Minorities), Edison Sierte
(PSR F/FW Major Crop), Gil Del Barrio(PSR Landowner-
Minor Crop), Atty. Pet Español (PSR Landowner Major
Crop), Vicente Raviz (PSR Farmers Org), Regional Director
Luis Bueno, Jr.. PARCCOM Chairperson Rosario Pascual,
NGO Rep Salvacion Dizon, OPAg rep Manuel Del Rosario,
Rodolfo Salamero (PSR Agri-coop), PARPO II Jesus De la
Rosa, & CARPO Salve Noami A. Lo.

4. 4
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Catanduanes has launched
the Community-Managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
(CPWASH) Project in barangay Bon-ot, San Andres town on January 17,
2014.
PARPOTeves,in his messagerevealedthattheprojectisthe firstintheprovince,andfeatures
low-cost water supply technology and sanitation systems in Agrarian Reform Community
(ARC), improving access of basic services, partnership, and community-based social services.
In Bon-ot, one of the 15 barangays covered by SAHA ARC in San Andres, the water project
has a unique add-on in terms of putting-up piglets dispersal as its livelihood component,
as informed by John
Joseph Camu, DAR
Point Person on
CPWASH. He said
that the potable water
sanitation system
under the project will
install iron removal
filter, bio-sand filter,
rainwater collector,
and biogas digester.
Mayor Peter Cua
of San Andres thanked
the DAR for this
project, and approved
a P50,000.00 LGU
counterpart for
labor cost and water
analysis out of its
P155,000.00 total
cost funded by DAR.
The launching also featured the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
among key project players, PARPO Alexander Teves (DAR), Hon. Mayor Peter C. Cua
(MLGU), Hon. Gaspar Santelices (BLGU, Bon-ot), and Mr. Demetrio Rodriguez Jr. (farmers’
association) where obligations of all parties were stated and explained during the ceremonies
by CARPO Nerissa Aldea. She added that the project also provides capacity development,
enterprise management of the water system, monitoring/evaluation and technical assistance
to end-users.
Present also to lend support in the ceremonies were San Andres DAR staff led by former
MARO Rodrigo Torrazo, former SARPO Socorro Facundo, DF Rosemarie Arcilla, other
DARPO staff, and the rest of local government unit officials in San Andres led by MEO Jing
Balmadrid and MPDO Concepcion Santelices. (esvillar)
CASTILLA, Sorsogon – Residents of Barangay
Burabod heaved a sigh of relief after the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned
over recently the newly constructed Community-
managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and
Hygiene (CPWASH), a low-cost technology that
provides potable water and promote proper
hygiene.
Municipal Administrative Officer Ian Leona said the
completion of the facilities is very timely for the upcoming
summer when water in the area is running low. “Our local
residents here will be at peace, knowing that they have
sufficient potable water even during summer time,” she said
shortly after the turnover ceremonies.
Sorsogon provincial agrarian reform officer Felix E.
Fruto presided the simple rites held Monday at the barangay
hall, and later saw him and some barangay officials taking
turns in drinking the water, which they found odorless and
taste good.
“Some 60 households made up of 1,400 out of the
nearly 2,000 residents would benefit from the project,”
Fruto said.
Also present during the turnover rites were Officers of
Burabod Farmers’ Association and Barangay Water System
Association (BAWASA), who expressed their gratitude to Fe
Bailon, Provincial CPWASH Point Person; Anna Mae
Ebuenga, technical assistant, Castilla town agrarian
reform officer Rolando Brimon, and development
facilitator Josefa Celeste Cariño by signing the
Statement of Commitment.
Fruto advised local barangay officials and residents
to take good care of the project, which also included
biogas wastewater treatment system, a good substitute
for liquefied petroleum gas for cooking, using animal
waste as source of gas via decomposition process.
“Think that this project is yours, which will benefit
not only your generation but even the next. So take
care of it,” Fruto said even as he thanked other CARP
implementing agencies, which contributed in one way
or another to make this project a reality, and the Philippine
Army for lending a hand in the construction of biogas facility.
The encouraging part about the project, Fruto said,
is that local residents can do it by themselves now as they
were given hands on trainings on how to do the low-cost
technology where water from elevated streams and springs
pass through pipes and into concrete water tank equipped
with iron removal and bio sand filters to ensure constant flow
of clean water.
“This is truly great! Aside from the knowledge we
learned on how to do these things, we can save hard-earned
cash supposedly for LPG. Besides, it helps solve our problem
about stinking animal messes, which can be loaded to a
sealed tank that produces cooking gas,” said Barangay
Burabod chairman Amado Mirandilla, Jr. (PAMRS w/
reports from aajaso)
DAR Employees & members of the Philippine Army with the
members of BUFA (Burabod Farmworkers’ Association) and
BAWASA (Barangay Water System Association) join in the prayer
while the priest blessed DAR’s project Biogas.
PARPO Felix Fruto drinking the water from CPWASH
Project to prove that it is safe and clean.
Burabod ARC Thrives With Potable Water
and Free Cooking Gas
DAR launches water project in San Andres
MOA SIGNING on DAR Water Project at Bon-ot, San Andres drew presence among
PARPO Alexander T. Teves (third from left), Hon. Mayor Peter C. Cua of San Andres,
Hon. Punong Barangay Gaspar M. Santelices of Bon-ot, this municipality, and Mr.
Demetrio O. Rodriguez Jr., President, Bon-ot Farmers’ Association. Witnessing the
signing ceremonies were (from left)Ms Eva Laurente of Mun. Agriculture Office, and
CARPO Nerisa Aldea of DAR. PHOTO BY: Bong Villar
FULL SUPPORT. Honorable Mayor Peter C. Cua of San Andres
LGU met with CARPO Nerisa Aldea and former SARPO Socorro
Facundo in discussing how the CPWASH project of the DAR in
his area could gain more benefits and in turn the LGU extended
counterpart funding for the project.

5. 5
FBs’ OathTaking and Signing
of APFU held in Albay
Forty-two (42) farmers in Jovellar, Albay took
oath and signed the Application to Purchase and
Farmer’s Undertaking (APFU) documents in front of
Hon. Judge Nimfa C. Gomez at the Municipal Circuit
Trial Court of Camalig-Jovellar in Camalig, Albay on
January 28, 2014.
A total of 44 hectares composed of 17 lots of the
Porferia vda de los Baños (PVDB) Inc. landholdings in
barangay Maogog, Jovellar, Albay are to be divided among
the identified beneficiaries. The subject lots are part of the
220 hectares landholdings of PVDB Inc. with Emancipation
Patent under Operation Land Transfer.
Hon. Judge Gomez said that the beneficiaries are very
lucky to have been given the opportunity to own the land
they till for many years. She encouraged the beneficiaries
to work hard and make their land more productive. The
Hon. Judge has also explained the contents of the APFU
documents in the vernacular to ensure that the beneficiaries
have clearly understood all the conditions stated therein.
Judge Gomez has also required each beneficiary to present
their valid ID to counter check their identities.
On the other hand, Jovellar Municipal Agrarian Reform
Officer (MARO) Hilario Manzanades said that he is working
out for the formal organization of these beneficiaries into an
association in order to access programs from government
and non-government organizations. This is in anticipation
to developing the area into a sugarcane plantation as
another producer of panocha “kalamay” and muscovado
sugar in the province. (gp_olayres)
PARCCOM-Catanduanes leads multi-agency ARC forum
The Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating
Committee (PARCCOM) in Catanduanes led by
Chairman, lawyer Manuel A. Magistrado and
PARCCOM Executive Officer, PARPO-II Alexander
T. Teves conducted a consultative assembly
dubbed as “Lakbay Serbisyo sa ARC” in a select
Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) of Bagawang
in Pandan town last December 3, 2013.
The activity, in so far as the PARCCOM is concerned
is the first-ever initiative it has taken since its first re-
organization in 2004. Recognizing one of its duties to
spearhead resource mobilization in agrarian reform areas,
PARCCOM-Catanduanes drew-up an activity featuring
partnership strengthening, service access, information/
advocacy plug and pledging sessions among participating
agencies.
Attended by almost a hundred farmer beneficiaries at
barangay Bagawang plaza, the activity likewise gained full
support of Pandan municipal local government unit led by
Mayor Joseph Wong who was represented by Vice-Mayor
Ninfa Namata in the event.
Namata, on her part, commended the PARCCOM, the
DAR, and the different agencies who lend their hundred
percent attendance during the forum, saying further
that it touched her to see them converge in this farthest
municipality of the province and offer their menu of services
to Bagawang CARP beneficiaries. “It’s the first time in my
tenure as local official to see this full convergence of these
different agencies coming here in this remote barangay,”
Vice-Mayor Namata said.
On the part of the PARCCOM and the DAR, they both
assured the LGU and the ARC beneficiaries of Bagawang
that this activity will be just a first of s series that will be
initiated by the Office as the province will go full steam ahead
by 2014 in terms of program beneficiaries development
activities. All the PARCCOM private sector representatives,
ex-officio members and the CARP implementing agencies
made a caravan-type travel to Bagawang ARC and saw to
it that pressing needs of the area in terms of government
assistance would be addressed during the consultative
assembly.
Issues on rural infrastructure support, land tenurial
disputes, land titling which concerns both the DAR and
the DENR, market and investment channels, livelihood
development assistance such as seeds and farm machineries
availment were just among those that were given opportunity
for the beneficiaries to get hold.
Merito Icalabis, manager of the DAR-assisted ARC
people’s organization in Bagawang, the PARIK-CARP
Multipurpose Cooperative, assured the agencies that the
ARCPO would likely to meet whatever qualification criteria
that these agencies would desire in the event that they avail
of these opportunities. PARIK-CARP MP Cooperative which
is under stewardship of then Development Facilitator (DF) in
the area, ARPT Lorna Bagadiong, is one of the DAR’s best
cooperatives in the province, gaining for it a level-5 ALDA
rating last year. (esvillar)
PARCCOM-LED ACTIVITY dubbed as “Lakbay-Serbisyo
sa ARC” made its triumphant launch, the first-ever of its
kind of initiative in the province insofar as PARCCOM-PCIT
engagement vis-a-vis CARP implementation in Catanduanes
is concerned. Done last December 2013, the PARCCOM-PCIT
members shown above, the PBD and the DARMO staff, and
key ARCPO officers posed before the ARC cooperative store
in Bagawang, Pandan, Catanduanes before the activity proper.
PHOTO BY: Bong Villar
By day one of March this year, DAR Secretary
Virgilio delos Reyes will already be starting to
check live via the Internet whether claim folders
(CFs) are moving or not, especially in provincial
and municipal offices. This the Secretary can ably
do he be in his office, on fieldwork or even during
breaks in his hectic schedules. It’s simple and
easy. The Secretary will just have to go online
with his laptop or iPad, and connect to a web-
based application the department has recently
rolled out, the Land Acquisition and Distribution
(LAD) database operational tool, now widely
known in DAR as OpTool.
With just a few clicks more, the Secretary will already be
gazing at 17 detailed checklists that reveal a claim folder’s
status from the day technical personnel are presumed to have
conducted research and gathered documents, to the stage
where DAR finally distributes LBP-certified photocopies of
EPs and CLOAs to farmer beneficiaries.
The system was developed upon instruction from the
Secretary himself to aid a massive claim folder review in
order to have a truthful and accurate picture of the database.
OpTool is not only intended to improve monitoring and
reporting of LAD status, but also to simplify the operational
process for the field personnel.
With the usernames already provided to DARCO, the
DARROs and DARPOs down to the DARMO level, technical
personnel are now backtracking CFs, updating/rectifying
data, and assigning tasks in a span of just a few minutes.
Though the system still need some fine-tuning, it is very
apparent that optool will become one breakthrough for the
department as far as LAD data management and monitoring
are concerned.
“I’m very positive that OpTool will help DAR Bicol
improve its performance in land distribution, that’s why its
use should be maximized. And we definitely need to, because
DAR as a whole has so much expectations in Bicol being
one of the high-LAD regions”, DAR V RD Luis B. Bueno,
Jr. said during the orientation-workshops in all DAR
provincial offices last January. (rrl)
DAR V Optimistic with Optool
Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr., OIC-PARPO II, DARPO-Masbate, in his
opening remarks emphasized the timeliness of the LTI OpTool
Workshop in relation to the very challenging 8265 hectare-LTI
Target of DARPO-Masbate this year.
PHOTO BY: Ross A. Lustestica
Rigoberto Castro of Field Operations Office (right) along with
ARDO Rod Realubit of DARRO-V discussed the OpTool database
with DAR Sorsogon technical personnel
PHOTO BY: Alura A. Jaso

6. 6
DAR Bicol’s Mr. Edsel Buendia (Albay), Ms.
Nemia Beo (Catanduanes), Mr. Maximo Magana,
Jr. (Cam. Norte), Ms. Belen Bernal (Catanduanes)
& Mr. Manuel Nebreja (Cam. Sur) belong to the
1st Batch of MPM-MRD Scholars who recently
graduated at the Development Academy of the
Philippines (DAP), February 20, 2014.
They are all now holders of a Master’s Degree in Public
Management – Major in Rural Development (MPM-
MRD), a pioneering program that is being espoused by
the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture
(DA), and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
in partnership with the Development Academy of the
Philippines (DAP), University of the Philippines-Diliman
(UP), Xavier University and Ateneo School of Government.
The MPM-MRD is a customized masters program aimed
at enhancing the joint efforts of the three main government
agencies involved in rural development, such as DAR, DA
and DENR, collectively dubbed as the National Convergence
Initiative (NCI) agencies. MPM-MRD is part of a landmark
agreement forged by the NCI agencies, which consists of
three projects that are expected to accelerate economic
development in the countryside. The other two are Agrarian
Reform Communities Connectivity Economic Support
Services (ARCCCESS) and the pilot implementation of
Environmental Conditional Cash Transfer (eCCT) program
in Southern Leyte.
The main objectives of the MPM-MRD are as follows:
create a pool of rural development managers under the
convergence initiative; promote an enhanced practice
of leadership to manage change required to achieve
a framework for sustainable development; and enable
institutions to subsequently offer the program after the initial
offering.
MPM-MRD targets the field supervisors, technical/
The DAR Camarines Sur Provincial
Project Office of the Agrarian Reform
Communities Project (ARCP2)
headed by PARPO II Leo M. Gaveria
and PARPO I Raquel P. Claveria
works hand in hand with the National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP) Regional Office represented
by its officials: TMSD chief Evelyn
L. Jacob, DMO Benito B. Batan,
and CAO Sylvia C. Serrano, in the
issuance of Certificates of Non-
Overlap as one of the requirements
for all ARCP2 infra sub-projects. Also
present in the said meeting held on
February 19, 2014 at DARPO Cam Sur conference room were the respective mayors, municipal planning
& development coordinators (MPDCs) of the ten municipalities which are the recipients of the DAR-ADB
funded sub-projects in Camarines Sur. (Joey Co)
GROUNDBREAKING of the 2-classroom school building on February
11, 2014 at Barangay Del Rosario, Pili, Camarines Sur. Three other similar
school buildings at barangays Binobong, Sagrada, and BagongSirang
with a total cost of Php7.049 million were co-funded by the Asian
Development Bank through the DAR’s Agrarian Reform Communities
Project (ARCP2), LGU-Pili, and the National Government Assistance to
LGU (NGALGU). In the photo are (from left) DARCamarines Sur PARPO
I Raquel P. Claveria, School Principal Lorna Miña, Municipal Engineer
Vicente D. Ordas, Municipal Kagawad and Chairman of the Education
Committee Joel Bolaños, Pili Mayor Alexis “Nonoy” San Luis, Jr., PARPO
II & ARCP2 Provincial Project Manager Leonito M. Gaveria, and Vice-
mayor Rogelio Raymund D. Rigondola. (Joey Co)
“DAR’s partner-agencies play a
key role in achieving our targets
especially in the Land Acquisition
& Distribution (LAD) aspect of our
program,” stressed RD Luis Bueno,
Jr. (in white polo shirt) during the
Strategic Planning-Workshop with
DENR-LMS, LBP and LRA-ROD at
the La Roca Veranda Suites and
Restaurant, January 15, 2014. One
purpose of said activity is to present
and synchronize DAR Region V’s
2014 programs/activities/targets
with that of its partner-agencies
in order to work with the same
tempo in support with the CARP
implementation in the region.
DAR-CDA tandem. DAR V and
the Cooperative Development
Authority (CDA) partnership
continue to do well in
strengthening farmer coops in
the region. On January 23, said
agencies conducted a planning
workshop to come up with new
strategies of how to attain the
target of 44 cooperatives for the
year. The one-day session was
attended by the DAR Regional
and Provincial TASS chiefs & point
persons headed by Ms. Lerma
Dino (seated, 2ndfr left) and CDA
regional & provincial officials
led by Regional Director Atty.
Maria Lourdes P. Pacao (seated,
center).
Photo News
New rural development managers for DAR Bicol
Continue to next page ►
THE DAR
CATANDUANES
BOOTH during
the catandungan
trade fair held at
Virac town plaza
was participated
by different
Agrarian Reform
C o m m u n i t i e s
(ARCs) with
their respective
products and PO
representative.
Manning the
booth were (from
left) PIMAO
Becky Clemente, Asst. Stat. Anne Perez and other visiting DARPO staff.
(Bong Villar)
THE GRADUATES. (From left to right) Mr. Edsel Buendia,
Ms. Nernia Beo, Mr. Maximo Magana Jr., Ms. Belen
Bernal and Mr. Manuel Nebreja pose for the camera
before the ceremony.

7. 7
The Department of Agrarian Reform in Bicol
conducted Retooling/Enhancement of Technical
Skills of personnel in the different provincial
offices last January, 2014 with the aim of
fastracking the Land Acquisition & Distribution
(LAD) accomplishment in the region.
Workshops were conducted to refresh and review
technical personnel of the Claim Folder (CF) documentation
under A.O. No. 7 Land Acquisition process. The data
involved in this process are the ones being entered in the
LTS OpTool system.
Regional Chief Administrative Officer Patricia T. Rastrullo
said that the objective of the activity is to explain in simple
terms the new implementing guidelines vis-a-vis the existing
ones about the process of acquiring and distributing private
agricultural lands to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).
CARPO Nida Santiago of DARRO-LTID served
as the chief facilitator of the activity. She provided insights
and in-depth explanation on matters that are not so clear
to the participants. She also encouraged the participants
to continuously learn and further familiarize themselves
with the LAD process so that they will be more efficient in
carrying out their functions, duties and responsibilities.
Aside from the regional office, other resource persons
from the provincial offices and partner-agency Land Bank
of the Philippines also took turns in sharing their expertise/
explaining Administrative Orders, Memorandum Circulars
and other issuances that are useful in attaining the more
than 40,000 hectare-target of DAR Bicol this year: PARPO
I Camilo del Monte of Camarines Norte, OIC-MARO Sam
Mago and MARO Flor Escolano both of Camarines Sur,and
representatives from LBP-LVO.
During workshops, participants were given refresher/
review lectures and exercises about the essential documents
and requirements needed for the process of land acquisition
as provided in A.O. No. 7 or otherwise known as the Revised
Rules and Procedure Governing the Acquisition and
Distribution of Private Agricultural Lands under R.A. No.
6657, as amended. (ross a. lustestica)
THE TEAM THAT WORKS. (standing, l-r) IA Odessa Cabezudo,
Engr. Tess Banua, Cam. Sur PARPO II Leo Gaveria, RD Boy
Bueno, ARDO Rod Realubit, RCAO Pat Rastrullo, CARPO Nida
Santiago, OIC-PARPO I Camilo del Monte, MARO Flor Escano;
(foreground) coordinators Emman Vibar & Ben Loria, OIC-
MARO Sam Mago & Rolly dela Pena of LBP-LVO during the
retooling activity in Cam. Sur. PHOTO BY: Joey Co
TPs undergo retooling
AFTER attending the orientation on Agrarian
Production Credit Program (APCP), Bigkis San
mga Paraoma sa Bulan (BPB) decided to adopt
the re-lending policy on loan
from DAR-APCP which they
believe is a good way to start
the year.
APCP is a program of the
Department of Agrarian Reform in
partnership with the Department of
Agriculture and the Land Bank of
the Philippines. It is the instrument
through which production loan
on rice, other financial and
technical services are delivered
to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
(ARBs). It consists mainly of credit
provisioning and capacity building
to ARB organizations like BPB. It is
expected that ARBs who avail this
program would be able to develop
their knowledge and competency
in engaging and managing agri-enterprises while upgrading
their skills on financial management. In this way, their
bankability or credit worthiness will be enhanced.
BPB is located in Somagongsong, Bulan, Sorsogon.
It has been only a year in operation but the chairperson
and members are very positive that they will make their
organization progressive. Re-lending is just a stepping stone
in order for them to venture in other agri-enterprises.
The members of BPB can apply production loan with a
minimum amount of thirty thousand
pesos (Php30,000.00). Each
borrower can borrow a maximum
amount of thirty five thousand
pesos (Php35,000.00) for inbred
rice per hectare, and a minimum
amount of thirty five thousand pesos
(Php35,000.00) to a maximum
amount of forty thousand pesos
(Php40,000.00) for a highbred crop
per hectare. Every cropping season
the loan must be fully paid otherwise
the borrower will be charged two
percent (2%) per month for the
delayed payment. On the other
hand, a borrower can pay his loan
in kind (palay) to the BPB.
Furthermore, BPB has also
enrolled to Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC),
another program of DAR complementary to its credit access
and agricultural production programs. So that in case they
won’t be able to pay their loan to the LBP due to damage by
typhoons, pest, and other extreme weather conditions the
insurance will be the one to handle it. (aajaso)
LBP-Bulan Representative congratulating
the BPB President Leoncio M. Gocoyo
Jr. for their wise decision of adopting the
re-lending policy loan from LBP-APCP.
Witnessing to their agreement are MARPO
Gil Garrido; Lucia S. Vitug; Engr. Hilario
Fruto Jr; Leony Madrid, Development
Facilitator; and some BPB members.
PHOTO BY: Lynn Erebete
BPB ADOPTS RE-LENDING POLICY LOAN FROM APCP
If others have failed and just gave up on
dispersal thing, here’s one just another reminder
that we’ve got an exception. In Catanduanes,
it’s a moving up, not moving down experience
with the Program Beneficiaries Division leading
the project for years now since 2006. The project
is a triumph story of a solely government-
funded one, though in meager, self-reliant mode
financing, but turns-out that not one is spent in
vain. It grows, and grows bigger in value, and
in number.
Add to this is the understanding that there lies the trust
to our people that the government bestows unconditionally,
then begets something bigger than we expect from them.
Now spanning across 16 Agrarian Reform Communities
(ARCs) throughout the province, the DAR Catanduanes-
funded swine dispersal project, said to be the only one
in such magnitude and viable set-up among other similar
government-led project that continues to draw impact for
years, has already gained at least P449,000.00 since
it has gained ground in 2006 starting off with just 5
recipients in Macabuluhan ARC.
To date, it boosts a cumulative count of 38 recipients
since its inception, with 1 piglet to 1 household farmer-
beneficiary recipient ratio. As the year 2013 folded-up,
the cycle of distribution of piglets to every household
beneficiary in 16 ARCs totaled 250; and yet it grows on
and on in the ensuing year.
PARPO Alexander T. Teves was elated by the fact that
this project has been fully tapped to prove that trust works
in every Catandungan farmer beneficiary. “I commend
the Program Beneficiary Development staff for this effort,
dating back when it started in 2006 from then CARPO
Nelia Tadoy to now, CARPO Nerisa Aldea, with special
mention to the project’s coordinator and agri-livestock
point person, Dr. John Joseph Camu, himself a licensed
veterinarian and PBD staff,” PARPO Teves stated. He said
that this project deserves to be continued because it is a
showcase of a well-managed, locally funded project of the
DAR where we gain success, while others may have given
up as a flop.
For example, in the year 2013, the project having had
38 recipients and valued with P2,000.00 worth for each
piglet dispersed in every household beneficiary gained
some P76,000.00. Less this year’s dispersal income for
38 piglets from the total of 250 piglets dispersed since
2006, still the project valued the remainder of 212 piglets
with P2,000 each, which drew a cumulative income of
P449,000.00 of the province for re-dispersal alone . It
was noted also that there was an add-on during the last
50 piglets dispersed in 2013 with cost of each piglet rising
from P2, 000 to P2,500.00 each.
Now with the province’s stature towards a full-blown
program beneficiary development mode, this project
portends to speak something with a high note; a go-signal
that indeed, the people in the ARCs have long been
prepared for this new chapter of the program. (esvillar)
DAR-Catanduanes still
at its peak on swine
dispersal since 2006
JUST ANOTHER round of successful swine dispersal
project spread all over the 20 ARCs in Catanduanes
through a roll-over scheme. Here, (at left),Dr. John
Joseph Camu of DAR-Cat’nes PPBD Division tackles
post-birthing issues on-site with a woman beneficiary in
barangay Hicming in Virac town.
New rural..
program staff and development facilitators of the NCI
agencies for them to be equipped with relevant enterprise,
political, managerial and technical skills necessary to effect
a wide-ranging and sustainable rural development that is
characterized by an economically empowered rural poor.
Some of the core courses offered are: Dimension
of Sustainable Development; Public Management and
Governance; Ethics and Leadership in Public Service,
Management Analysis and a few more.
DAR Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes explained that the
MPM-MRD is a pioneering academic program because it is
being delivered in a blended learning mode that is not yet
practiced widely in the country. Blended learning, de los
Reyes said essentially means that the MPM-MRD is being
taught not only on a traditional face-to-face mode but also
on an online (thru the Internet) or distance education basis.
DARRO V Chief Administrative Officer Patricia Rastrullo,
point person for DAR Bicol said that the regional management
will try its best to make this opportunity, as much as possible,
accessible also to other qualified personnel from the region.
To DAR Bicol’s new Rural Development Managers, kudos!
(rrl)

8. 8
Bicol’s Agrarian Reform Information Service
A bi-monthly publication of the
Department of Agrarian Reform
Regional Office 5, Lakandula
Drive, Gogon Legazpi City
EDITORIAL STAFF
MARIA TRINISE VASQUEZ-GENERAL
Editor
REUBEN R. LORIA
Senior Writer/Circulation Manager
PROVINCIAL CORRESPONDENTS
GEORGE P. OLAYRES
Albay
NILLA P. LAGATUZ
Camarines Norte
JOSE D. CO
Camarines Sur A
CARLA R. YU
Camarines Sur B
EDUARDO S. VILLAR
Catanduanes
ROSS A. LUSTESTICA
Masbate
ALURA A. JASO
Sorsogon
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS
LUIS B. BUENO, JR.
Regional Director
RODRIGO O. REALUBIT, CESO IV
OIC-Director III
ATTY. LEO MIGUEL A. RAMOS
OIC-Director III
For inquiries, please write or call the DAR
Regional Office:
(052) 435-0258
480-5180
480-5181
darro5info@yahoo.com
facebook.com/DARRegion5
Salamat, Mabuhay!
Happy Birthday!
2014 DARRO V Retirees
Ma. Belinda A. Balde
Joel A. Gasga
Rebecca A. Grande
Jaime C.Bio
Concesa Y. Iglesia
Marcela A. Lahorra
Yolanda N. Pagador
Gina D. Bolaños
Elizabeth B. Polo
Eddie C. Manjares
Eugenio T. Seguenza
Ramoncito B. Vibar
Corazon M. Sabater
As you go to pastures new
Remember those who worked with you
Think of us office bound, longing for sun
And we'll think of you out
there having great fun
As you are wise you
will no doubt wonder
How will they get by
without a blunder
But we'll learn and laugh
and then we'll say
How you would never
have done it that way
And even at times if
we've driven you mad
We thank you most
sincerely for the great
times we've had
Whatever aspirations
you now hold in your heart
We wish you the
best retirement right
from the start
Keep in touch, let us
know how you are
Send us a postcard
from near and afar
Think of us fondly
as we do of you
And remember
us working,
as you used to do.
January 15
Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr
PARPO Masbate
February 13
Engr. Romulo A. Britanico
PARPO Albay
January 21
Alexander T. Teves
PARPO Catanduanes
January 14
Rodrigo O. Relubit
Director III