1) The Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Philippines visited agrarian reform communities in Camarines Sur province to discuss issues with farmers and beneficiaries. 2) A training was held for officers of agrarian reform beneficiaries' organizations in Camarines Norte province on warehouse management and post-harvest facilities to help farmers store and sell their crops. 3) Two farmer field schools graduated farmers in Camarines Sur province after providing training on organic vegetable production, helping increase farmers' incomes.

1. PAGES 6-7 Photo News
PAGE 2
DAR Secretary meets ARBOs, personnel in Bicol
PAGE 3
PAGE 8
Veggie farmers earn, nourish day care centers
story on page 315 ARBOs in Cam. Norte complete CDA mandatory trainings
see story on page 2
NOURISHED TOTS.
Pre-schoolers at the three day care centers in Ocampo, Camarines Sur enjoying their squash omelet during their feeding time. The area is one of the municipalities in the 3rd district of Camarines Sur
covered by the Partnership against Hunger and Poverty (PaHP) program.

2. 2
ON THE COVER
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
DAR Secretary meets ARBOs, Cover Story
personnel in Bicol
DAR Secretary Virgilio De Los Reyes spent quality time
with the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of agrarian
reform communities (ARCs) May-Ogob and Pinit in Ocampo,
Camarines Sur during his visit to DAR Bicol, September 2-4,
2014.
He devoted his time threshing out concerns and issues
affecting the farmers in said areas. For one, the May-Ogob
Agrarian Reform Cooperative’s (MOARC) issue regarding
the need for better irrigation systems in the area which at
present has only one existing irrigation system, not enough
to sustain the needs of the farmers. The Secretary advised the
MOARC officers and members to come up with resolution so
that it can be addressed by the proper government agency.
MOARC was organized in 1991 and registered in
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in 1997 with
109 ARB-members. Its economic activities include palay
production, livelihood projects, and vegetable production.
It was able to access production loan with the Land Bank of
the Philippines (LBP), and common service facilities (CSFs),
post-harvest facilities, and farm-to-market road from the
DAR.
The Secretary also interacted with the all-female
members of the Farmer Field School in May-Ogob ARC, a
recipient of the Php40,000 seed money from DAR used to
train 35 members on Organic Vegetable Production which
was conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in
partnership with the local government unit of Ocampo. The
FFS project is also supported by 3rd District Congresswoman
Leni G. Robredo as a food production unit of the newly
implemented Partnership Against Hunger & Poverty (PAHP)
of the government.
A one-on-one discussion with the officers of the
Pinit Irrigators Association (PIA) in Pinit, Ocampo was
likewise facilitated by the Secretary to establish personal
connection while individual concerns were being heard out.
Said association is SEC-registered and organized since 1986.
It is composed of 124 ARBs and 28 non-ARBs servicing 110
hectares of riceland in the area. It was able to access from
DAR one unit of Combined Harvester and five units of farm
tractors, production loan, trainings, among others.
Said barangays that Sec. De Los Reyes visited were two of
the three ARCs in Ocampo, Camarines Sur, and formed part
of the last leg of his three-day visit in the region. He covered
four provinces -- Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, and Camarines
Sur, wherein he met with DAR officials and employees in each
area to thresh out various matters related to the tasks to be
accomplished by the Department as another year is about to
close. He urged everyone to stay on track and just focus on
work, and avail of the courses offered by the Department in
upgrading and furthering the skills of each one. Everyone, he
said, must be armed with appropriate skills to synchronize
with the changing times.
“The interest of the ARBs is equal to the interest of the
DAR personnel. The same attention and concern must be
given to the personnel who work hard to serve the ARBs,”
he said.
(MTVGeneral)
One month after the DAR’S turn-over of Post Harvest Facilities (warehouse with office)
to Sta. Elena Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SEFMPC), and the completion of another
warehouse for Masalong-salong Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMPC), officers of ARBOs
underwent a capacity development training on Warehouse Management for Palay and Copra
Trading.
The training was conducted on October 9-10 and 14 at DAR Provincial Office Conference
Hall, Daet, Camarines Norte through the initiative of PARPO II Ross Olayres and the BDCD.
In his note during the opening program, PARPO Olayres expressed that the training would
intensify the full utilization of warehouse that would backstop their business enterprise.
Twenty (20) successful graduates are either general manager, operations manager,
warehousemen, common service facilities (CSF) operators and second-liner warehouse
managers. Considering that the two ARBOs are engaged in different business ventures –
Palay Trading for SEFMPC and copra trading for MMPC, the training modules focused on
their respective line of business engagement.
Warehousing and warehouse management are part of a logistics management system,
which in itself is a component in supply chain management. The need for a warehouse arises
due to the time gap between production and consumption of products. By bridging this gap,
storage creates time utility. Warehouse responds to the needs of the ARBOs whose products
are harvested in a particular season but are demanded throughout the year as in the case of
palay, coconut and copra.
The successful graduates of Warehouse Management Training with SARPO Ning
Lagatuz (seated 4th fr left), Asst. Training Officer Julie Botardo & Engr. Jeff Lopez
(standing 1st& 2nd fr left) and DFs Ruben Sanico & Toby Arana (both seated extreme
left and right)
Post-harvest facilities and
management training
for Cam. Norte ARBOs
Four months ago, the Farmer
Field School (FFS) in the Agrarian
Reform Communities (ARCs) of
May-ogob, Ocampo and Del Rosario,
Pili, both in Camarines Sur,
commenced, under the leadership
of then OIC-PARPO I, now OIC-PARPO
II Maria Gracia Sales,
where selected agrarian reform
beneficiaries attended ‘once-a-week’
classes for a discovery based
learning process. The participants
completed weekly training sessions
where a participatory approach of
observing, analyzing and engaging
in a hands-on-field experience to try
out the new ideas they have learned,
were the norm.
The objective of the non-formal
education is to increase the income
of farmers through creation of
sustainable livelihood opportunities
and to develop self-managed and
dynamic farming communities.
On October 14 and 15, the two
Farmer Field Schools have finally
finished at the same
time that the crops
they planted were all
in full bloom and ready
for harvest. Twenty
three (23) females and
fourteen (14) males
graduated from the
Farmer Field School
of ARC May-ogob in
Ocampo while 16
females and 13 males
from ARC Del Rosario
in Pili, made it to
graduation.
The graduation day
culminated with the harvesting
of their varied produce of squash,
string beans, bitter gourd and
gourd. To see the reward of one’s
toils evidently calls for jubilance
and excitement which indeed set
the mood for the day.
Distinguished guests were
invited to the graduation ceremony
from the local government unit,
Department of Agriculture and
Department of Agrarian Reform.
Mayor Alexis San Luis of Pili,
Camarines Sur was happy to share
that he intends to make the town of
Pili as a market hub for all organic
produce of the farmers in the
locality.
Valuable insights gained from
the course varied from addressing
the lack of knowledge in the
ecological processes that operate in
the agricultural production systems
to developing the capability of the
ARBs in better understanding
agricultural problems and causes,
improved varieties, better water
management and enhanced plant
nutrition.
FFS no doubt has a remarkable
and lasting developmental impact
not only amongst participants
but in the community itself which
apparently prompted knowledge
sharing. It also improved decision
making skills of the ARBs as they
were able to make management
decision at every stage of the crop.
Their queries were answered as the
training facilitator was with them
from start to finish. The different
group dynamics and participatory
discussion developed amongst
them a sense of cooperation and
coordination.
All the graduates were proudly
accordant in saying that the
knowledge they gained will truly
help them increase their production
and productivity.
(Carla R. Yu)
PROUD ARBs GRADUATE FROM FARMER FIELD SCHOOL
Post-harvest...- p 3

3. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014 3
Veggie farmers earn, nourish day care centers
AN agrarian reform beneficiaries organization
(ARBO) in Ocampo, Camarines Sur has found
vegetable farming self-satisfying as it provides
its members their “daily bread” and pre-school
children in their villages their daily nutritional needs.
Juliet Parlero, chairperson of the May-Ogob
Agrarian Reform Cooperative (MOARC), said
the program, dubbed: “Gulay para sa Lusog at
Siglang Batang Day Care Center,” is a welcome
development for it provides farmer-members
steady market outlets for their harvests and a sense
of pride for helping develop the villages’ future
generation healthy.
“It’s like shooting two birds in one shot. We
have steady income out of regular sales of our
vegetables and, at the same time, help nourish our
kids by providing them with fresh and organically
produced vegetables,” Parlero said in an interview
at their “Learning Farm Station” in Barangay May-
Ogob, Ocampo town.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los
Reyes said the program, a joint undertaking of
the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) and the Partnership Against Hunger and
Poverty (PAHP), seeks to uplift the quality of life in
the community and make pre-school children at
day care centers well-nourished.
The DAR chief said the new set up shows the
importance of collaboration between and among
concerned government agencies and the civil
society in an overall objective of helping every
community attain a vibrant economy and ensuring
a healthy and energetic village
people.
Under the program, the existing
ARBO in the barangay supplies the
daily vegetable needs of day care
centers in the same barangay. The
number of day-care center in each
village depends on the number of
population. In barangay May-Ogob,
an averaged barangay, there are
three day-care centers, with at least
35 pupils each.
De los Reyes said under
this arrangement the farmer-beneficiaries
are motivated to work
harder in their vegetable farms on a year-round
basis and produce more because they have ready
market outlets for their harvests, and the school
children are assured of fresh and organically
produced vegetables, which are good for their
health.
DSWD nutritionist-dietician Richel Arellano-dela
Cruz said the project is an offshoot of a previous
undertaking when the government used to provide
a kilo of rice for each public pre-school and
elementary pupil.
“This time we make sure that the project would
be result-oriented by having it directly enjoyed by its
intended beneficiaries – the pre-school children,”
Arellano-dela
Cruz
said.
She said
the daily food budget for each
pupil is P13 and is broken down as follows: P3 for
rice and P10 for viand (ulam) or cuisine. Pre-school
children attend classes at day care center five days
a week or 120 days a year.
Harawan Day Care Center worker Elinor
Mangubat said the program is very encouraging as
her wards have become more active and started
enjoying school activities, much unlike before when
they appeared less cooperative and less attentive.
(PAMRS)
Resource Speakers who are specialist in their respective fields
include the Regional Manager III of the Philippine Coconut
Authority Mr. Mateo B. Zipagan and Senior Agriculturist Arturo S.
Banta Of PCA Camarines Norte; Mr. Mario R. Bautista, Senior Grains
Operation Officer of the National Food Authority-Camarines Norte;
Ms. Erlinda Ilustre of Countryside Multi-line Cooperative (CMC)-a
cooperative primarily engaged in large scale palay trading; and
Engr. Jeffrey Lopez of DAR BDCD who discussed the Basic Storage
Requirement for Safe Storage. Topics discussed among others
are Standard Purchasing Practices, Procurement Planning and
Budgeting Worksop, Inbound and Outbound procedures, Loading
and Weighing Practices, Marketing and Sales Management, Good
Warehousing Practices, Warehouse Planning and Staffing Workshop,
Record Keeping and Financial Analysis.
The participants were also exposed to the actual testing of palay
using the standard equipment being used by the NFA for grain
classification such as the moisture meter, purity tester, and fogging
machine for minimizing insect infestation in the warehouse.
Aside from the warehouse training, the Sta. Elena Farmers MPC
being the ARBO under the Social Entrepreneurship (SE) partnership
will receive various equipment
for palay trading such as
moisture meter, platform
weighing scale, suspended
weighing scale and thresher as
DAR’s support to intensify their
palay trading business.
The construction of the two
(2) units Post Harvest Facilities
(warehouse with office) was
funded through the Agrarian
Reform Infrastructure Support
Project Phase 3 (ARISP III). One
is located in Poblacion Sta. Elena
Camarines Norte with an office
area of 49 sq.m., 450 sq.m. solar
dryer and 105 sq.m. warehouse
with a capacity of 3,500 cavans
worth almost 6.3M pesos which is now being managed by SEFMPC
for palay trading. Another is located in Masalong-salong Mercedes,
having an office area of 49 sq.m., 360 sq.m. solar dryer and 105
sq.m. warehouse with a capacity of 3,500 cavans with a project cost
of 8.3M pesos.
(Nilla P. Lagatuz/HannahMendoza)
(left photo)Sr. Grains Operations Officer Mario Bautista of NFA demonstrating to participants
how the palay purity tester works.(right photo) PARPO II Ross Olayres and CARPO Salve
Noami Lo awarding the plaque of appreciation to PCA Regional Manager Mateo B. Zipagan,
Resource Speaker during the Warehouse Management Training.
-------------------- from p 2
Four municipalities in Albay will soon implement
projects under Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting (GPB) amounting P10.43 Million after
the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) released the allocated budget earlier this
year.
Among the projects to be implemented in
the province of Albay are Coco Processing and
Coco-based Farming System in Guinobatan;
Construction of 100 linear meter Spillway in
Bgy Aurora-White Deer, Jovellar; Construction
of 1.5 km Marayag-San Isidro FMR in Libon;
and Construction of 35 linear meter Concrete
Footbridge in Sitio Lagsingan, Rapu-Rapu.
Preparatory activities for these projects are
now being undertaken by the DAR Albay as such
Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with
the concerned Municipal Mayors was held on
September 10, 2014 at the DAR Albay Provincial
Office.
During the activity, Guinobatan Mayor
Ann Gemma Ongjoco thanked the DAR for
extending support to her constituents. “Next
year, we look forward to bigger projects with DAR
to sustain the development of our community,”
Mayor Ongjoco said.
DAR Albay Provincial Agrarian Reform Program
Officer said that once the projects are completed,
it will benefit 10,400 farmers of which 527 are
agrarian reform beneficiaries in the above-cited
areas.
(George P. Olayres)
Signing from L-R: DAR Albay PARPO II Engr. Romulo A.
Britanico; Hon. Mayor Ronald Galecia of Rapu-Rapu, Albay;
Hon. Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco of Guinobatan, Albay sign
the Memorandum of Agreement on the Implementation of
GPB Projects in their towns.
DAR approves P10.4M GPB projects in Albay
Post-harvest...

4. 4 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
The Department of Agrarian Reform will develop
fresh milk product of Albay Dairy Cooperative (ADC) as
one of the 91 ARB products chosen for this year under
the Up-Valuing of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB)
Product Project of the department.
Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer Celso L. Olitin
said the project is in coordination with the National
Dairy Authority (NDA), Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) and Provincial Government of Albay (PGA). “These
three agencies will provide the necessary
training capability and knowledge
transfer to address ADC needs on the
production, processing, and marketing
of their fresh milk product,” SARPO Olitin
said. He added that the project will also
provide product development through
product label design and branding.
During the project orientation held last
October 7, 2014, Ms. Emmeline De la Cruz
of NDA Central Office stressed that the key
to the success of value adding are careful
business planning and adherence to
legal and technical regulations to be
able to market high quality product that
is reasonably priced. “Availability of the
product in convenient location for the consumer to
purchase and the delivery of product consistently to
consumers to meet the demand will sustain ADC’s
business enterprise” De la Cruz added.
A Baseline Survey was also conducted last October
8and 9, 2014 by the DAR Albay and NDA Central and
Regional Offices to assess the current status of dairy
milk enterprise of the recipient-cooperative. The team
assessed and inputted guidelines on the ADC’s
farmer level management of dairy farming and milk
production and clean milk production and milking
process.
Mr. Salvador C. Garchitorena, NDA Regional
Coordinator for Bicol informed the coop officers and
members the importance of good hygienic practice in
the production of clean and quality dairy milk. “Clean
milk has following characteristics, low bacterial count,
pleasant creamy smell and colour, no obnoxious odor,
no dirt extraneous matter and no residues of antibiotics
and pesticides”. Garchitorena explained.
On the other hand, Ms. Emmeline B. Dela Cruz
said that if more farmers venture into dairy farming,
additional volume of milk production can go a long
way to boost the local dairy industry.
Up-Valuing Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ (ARBs’)
Products involves partnership with professional BDS
provider with expertise on product design branding and
marketing to extend technical support in enhancing
the existing ARB products in the ARCs. Support includes
design, packaging and labeling innovations for 91
products of ARBs and rural women.
(George P. Olayres)
Address the concerns, resolve the
issues. This was the main crux of USEC
Jose Z. Grageda’s conference with the
DAR-Masbate’s workforce, particularly the
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers
(MARPOs) and the staff of the Land Tenure
Improvement Division (LTID) during his field
visit on October 16, 2014.
During the conference which was more
like an open forum, the Undersecretary for
Field Operations discussed the tasks that
DAR-Masbate needs to do in order for it to
deliver its Land Acquisition and Distribution
(LAD) commitment for this year. Aside from
monitoring and evaluating the LAD status
of the province and determining what
DAR-Masbate can accomplish for 2014,
USEC Grageda also gave some possible
solutions to the problems and hindrances
that are commonly encountered by the
MARPOs in the field.
DAR V Regional Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr.,
Assistant Regional Director for Operations
Rodrigo O. Realubit, and Philip Alvarez and
Fe Lezzie Falcon both SARPOs of the Bureau
of Land Tenure and Improvement were also
present during the conference.
(Ross A. Lustestica)
DAR to up-value Albay Dairy Fresh Milk
DAR Albay PBDD Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer Celso L. Olitin discusses
the trainings and activities in line with the Implementation of Up-Valuing of ARB
Products in the province of Albay during theProject Orientation held October 7, 2014
in Legazpi City.
USec Grageda visits
DAR Masbate
A three-day training was provided to nine (9) Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs)
by DAR Sorsogon headed by OIC PARPO II Felix E. Fruto, in partnership with South-Luzon Federation of
Cooperatives (SIDECO) headed by Chairperson Jenell P. Paghubasan, on September 17-19, 2014.
Particularly, the ARBOs learned the Basic Concepts of Cooperative Financial Management and Elements
of the Accounting System for Cooperatives which were discussed by Ms. Lucy G. Bailon. Likewise, Ms.
Evelyn B. Peña taught them how to interpret and analyze financial statements of cooperative; the meaning
of P.E.S.O.S. and its standards in evaluating cooperative performance; the basic of budgeting; and the basic
of investment and banking.
“This training is very beneficial to us because through the knowledge which the speakers had imparted
to us, we realized that for a long time we had been observing wrong practices in financial management.
Now that we already have the understanding, we can correct our mistakes,” said by one of the participants,
Felipe A. Castillo, vice chairperson of GASANAMUDECO.
This significant activity which was facilitated by Ms. Maribel J. Lubiano, DAR-CDA Partnership point
person of DAR Sorsogon, is part of DAR’s mission to capacitate cooperative leaders with basic knowledge,
skills and the right attitude in managing the financial affairs of the organizations. Prior to this, the same
participants had attended another three-day training on Cooperative Management and Governance.
“We’re not just giving trainings but we would be monitoring the growth of your cooperatives in order for
us to know whether DAR’s intervention has really helped you,” said Ms. Liza B. Repotente, CARPO-PBDD, to
the participants. (Alura A. Jaso)
The participants of the 3-day Financial Management Training with Maribel J.
Lubiano, DAR-CDA Partnership Point Person, and Training Facilitator; Ignacio B.
Espinosa, CAO-STOD; and Evelyn Preña, resource speaker.
Sorsogon ARBOs complete Financial Management Training
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Jose Z. Grageda (rightmost)
interacting with Masbate Group headed by OIC-PARPO II Samuel Ongcal
(left), while Regional Director Boy Bueno attentively listens(back).

5. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014 5
A total of 156 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)
who qualified under the screening process took their
oath before Honorable Judge Rolando G. Sandigan,
Municipal Trial Court in Cities and signed their
Application to Purchase and Farmer’s Undertaking
(APFU) on October 24, 2014 at the Rendezvous Function
Hall in Masbate City.
The 156 ARBs were composed of 18 farmers from
Barangay Sinalongan, 80 from Asid, and 58 from
Malinta. All of them are tenants and farmers of Arnaiz
Realty, Inc. and Nuestra Señora del Carmen Marble
which comprises of 109.8385 and 371.0676 hectares,
respectively. These two landholdings are the subjects of
a Supreme Court decision dated July 7, 2010 denying
the land owners’ petition for exclusion from CARP
coverage.
True to the provision of Section 60 of DAR Administrative
Order No. 7, series of 2011, Edwin C. Yanzon, OIC-MARPO
of DARMO-Masbate City and his staff
arranged the transportation of the ARBs to
ensure their attendance to the oath taking
ceremony. This was just one of the many
preliminary activities that they effectively
planned and executed which greatly
contributed to the success of the event.
Masbate City Mayor Rowena R. Tuason
was the guest of honor at the event.
In her speech, she said that the Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Masbate City
has always provided support to the farmer-beneficiaries
through the provision of
Farm Implements, Technology Trainings,
Carabao Dispersal, etc. She also said that
these aids, no matter how small or big, could boost
the Department of Agrarian Reform’s capability to fully
achieve its rural development mission.
Key officials of the DAR-Masbate Provincial Office
headed by OIC-PARPO II Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr. were also
present during the activity.
(Ross A. Lustestica)
156 ARBs Take Oath and Sign the APFU
1
In attempt to promote safety
in the workplace, the DAR Albay
Provincial Office in cooperation
with the Camalig Bureau of Fire
and Protection (BFP) and Albay
Health Emergency Management
Services (A-HEMS) conducted
an orientation and simulation
exercise on fire and earthquake
response last September 26, 2014.
The Camalig BFP thru FO1
Ruth A. Ramos demonstrated
what to do during and after an
earthquake and how to suppress
fire so as to limit body injuries, loss
of lives, damages to property,
and downtime. She emphasized
that each office or establishment should come up with a good Fire System and Fire
Plan and must be incorporated in its organizational system. “It is also important that
it is flexible and can be revised from time to time,” FO1 Ramos suggested.
According to SFO1 Leonila M. Rayala each employee must also be knowledgeable
in using fire extinguisher as this is the first remedy for small fire outbreak. She said that
anybody can use fire extinguisher by simply remembering the “G-PAS” technique –
Grab, Pull, Aim, and Squeeze.
The simulation exercise taught the employees the basic of dealing with earthquake
by “duck, cover, and hold” technique primarily to protect the head from injuries.
Immediately after, a standard operating procedure for search and rescue operation
were demonstrated by the A-HEMS. Actual firefighting was also demonstrated by the
Camalig BFP headed by Insp. Jerickson P. Miraflor.
During the activity, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Engr. Romulo A.
Britanico said the activity is a timely undertaking of the department as natural and
man-made disasters are widespread due to Climate Change. “The Gender and
Development (GAD) Focal Committee has come up with this endeavor in order for
us to be prepared in times of disasters such as fire and earthquake,” PARO II Britanico
stressed. He also added that that activity is of great importance, likewise timely,
especially with Mt. Mayon’s impending eruption, considering that the office of DAR
Albay is within the 6-8 kilometer danger zone.
(George P. Olayres)
The simulation exercise on search and rescue
operation led by Mr. Dennis P. Miraflor and
A-HEMS.
DAR Albay is Fire and Earthquake Ready!
Sorsogon City – a second round of Barangay
Agrarian Reform Council (BARC) Basic Training Course
was provided to BARC Officers of Barangays Sta. Lucia,
San Roque, San Juan and Del Rosario, all in Bacon
District; and Barangays Bucalbucalan, Peñafrancia,
Pamurayan, Pangpang, Macabog, Piot and Tugos,
Cabid-an Balogo and Basud of Sorsogon City by the
Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office of
Sorsogon headed by Felix E. Fruto, OIC PARPO II and
LGU Sorsogon City through the Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting.
A refresher course on the History of Land Reform was
given by Lucy G. Bailon, MARPO of Bacon District, to the
participants, as well as Memorandum Circular No. 05,
series of 2010 which is all about the new composition
of BARC. Meanwhile, Legal Officer Pamela F. Morcoso
discussed to the participants the salient features of
CARP and CARPER to give them updates on agrarian
laws.
According to Pamurayan Barangay Chairperson
Marites Lucero who was invited in said training, she
learned so many things about agrarian reform
implementation which has truly helped them enrich
their knowledge especially her whose idea on agrarian
reform processes is very different from the actual.
The BARC Officers were also taught about the
organization development skills by Marbel J. Lubiano,
DAR-CDA Partnership Point Person, so that the next time
they call for a meeting, they already know how to do it
properly.
They were also updated about
the Leasehold System and
Mediation Process by Norberto
D. Laguna, MARPO of Sorsogon
City, in order for them to know the
rights of every tenant (lessee);
landowner (lessor); their limit;
and the difference between the
landholdings under leasehold
and the landholdings which
are under the coverage of land
acquisition and distribution
(LAD).
“For a long time, we have not
given a seminar like this; only
hand-outs which we still have to
read and try to understand. But
now, there is already somebody
from the DAR who explains to
us what agrarian law is. This way is much better,” said
Romeo Llona, who has been the BARC Chairperson
of San Roque, Bacon, Sorsogon City since 1988, and
currently holding a seat in Barangay Council.
Before the two-day training concluded, the
participants were asked to group themselves into two.
Group one presented a play depicting the role of each
BARC member in an actual mediation conference,
while group two expressed their feedback regarding
the play.
“We have waited for this kind of training that can
give us an idea how we can resolve the agrarian-related
problems in our community,” said Marilou
Yuson, BARC Chairperson and Barangay Councilor of
Basud, Sorsogon City.
Like the 1st batch of BARC Officers who were provided
with BARC Strengthening, this batch is also expected
to experience the same knowledge journey to expose
them to BARC situations in other locales.
(Alura A. Jaso)
(L-R; Top-Bottom) : The participants of BARC Basic Training Course; Selected
participants doing a play as part of workshop; a participant reading the
feedback of the play written by other participants; and participants before
the workshop
2nd Batch of BARC Officers attend Basic Training Course

6. 6 PHOTO NEWS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
COCONUT SEEDLINGS DISPERSAL.
The Agrarian Reform Community
(ARC) of Bagong Siglo at San
Roque, Bato, Catanduanes was
provided 1,000 seednuts from Virac satellite office of the Philippine
Coconut Authority (PCA) under Mr. Leonor Tasarra. The distribution
activity was an offshoot of DAR-Catanduanes’ on-going coconut
production technology training in all its ARCs in the province, where
Bagong Siglo ARC was the first batch to complete said training. The
distribution was made possible at San Roque, Bato, October 15,
2014 with the presence of DF Elsie de Leon, Ms Jaycel Evangelista,
PCA Project Employee, and Mr. John Joseph Camu of DAR-PPBDD.
(Bong S.Villar)
CATANDUANES
HON. CYNTHIA A. VILLAR, Senator, was at the DAR-Catanduanes
booth during the opening of Catandungan trade fair at Capitol
grounds on October 24, 2014. Senator Villar was the guest of the
province during its 69th foundation anniversary. The trade fair runs from
October 24 -26, 2014. The activity showcases once again, the different
products from the eleven municipalities of Catanduanes. Sen. Villar
encouraged Catandunganons in their agri-enterprise, even as they
start “small”. The DAR-booth displayed products from its 10 participating
Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs). These products were mostly
out of their enterprise build-up through the different livelihood or skills
trainings provided by DAR, and its cooperating stakeholders such as
DTI, DOLE, OPAg /DA, DOST, CSU, etc. Sen. Villar made rounds in the
different booths during the fair with Hon. Cesar Vergara Sarmiento,
Congressman of the lone District of Catanduanes, Hon. Araceli B.
Wong, Governor of Catanduanes, Hon. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr., Vice-
Governor of Catanduanes, Dr. Minerva Morales, CSU President, and
other guests and officials. Also present in the DAR booth during the
activity was PARPO-II Alexander T. Teves, CARPO Nerisa Aldea and staff,
together with the different Development Facilitators (DFs), other DAR
employees and selected ARCPO officers.
(Bong S.Villar)
CATANDUANES
Sixteen (16) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of Brgys. Bolo
and Hidhid, Matnog Sorsogon after attending the Orientation
Seminar on LBP Authorization / Farmer Beneficiaries’ Obligation
cum Training on Land Productivity on September 11, 2014 receives
their Certificate of Landownership Award (CLOA). The training
was facilitated by Belinda G. Dogillo, Municipal Agrarian Reform
Program Officer of Matnog; and Helen U. Hugo, Agrarian Reform
Program Technologist / Development Facilitator. Francisco
Corcuera from the Land Bank of the Philippines was their resource
speaker. (Alura A. Jaso)
SORSOGON
DAR Secretary Virgilio R. De Los Reyes visited DAR Masbate and had an interaction with the
employees,September 2, 2014. (Ross A. Lustestica)
MASBATE
BACK-TO-BACK TURN-OVER of equipment for the ARCs’ livelihood ventures were conducted by DAR-Catanduanes
led by PARPO Alexander T. Teves and CARPO Nerisa B. Aldea and the rest of DARPO
staff, OIC-GSS Merlita Bautista, Supply Officer Liz Benitez, DF Rose Arcilla at ARC –SAHA, San Andres
located at barangay Bon-ot (right photo), and ARC Milaviga, Caramoran (left photo) with its DF
Jose Peña, ARBO Chair Villardo Villagas and Barangay Captain Rudy de los Reyes. In Bon-ot, the ARC
is engaged on production and selling of sweet delicacies, while in MIlaviga, the ARC is currently
operating its Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) production, with training assisted by local satellite PCA office
being manned by Mr. Leonor Tasarra. (Bong S.Villar)
Lowering of Capsule as part of the Ground Breaking Ceremony
of 1.5 km Marayag-San Isidro FMR in Libon, Albay held October
20, 2014 with PARPO II Engr. Romulo A. Britanico, PARPO I Estreluuna
G. Ante, DARRO V Infra Engineer Danilo C. Cea, Chief Agrarian
Reform Program Officer Lerma B. Dino, Libon Municipal Mayor
John V. Dycoco, and Barangay Officials of Marayag and San
Isidro of Libon, Albay. The GPB was adopted to identify programs
and projects that would help the country’s poorest cities and
municipalities. (George P. Olayres)
ALBAY
DARRO 5 Team headed by RCAO Pat Rastrullo inspects CSFs turned over in Masbate.
CATANDUANES

7. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014 PHOTO NEWS 7
Coastal Clean-up in Masbate City - The DAR-Masbate MASBATE
workforce, headed by OIC-PARPO II Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr., joined
in the Coastal Clean-up initiated by the Local Government of
Masbate City early morning on September 20, 2014. The activity
is in observance of the 27th International Coastal Clean-up
and pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 470 that was
issued on September 15, 2003. This global movement is aimed
at driving the general public to be actively involved in taking
care of the environment and to make a positive contribution to
a cleaner and healthier world. (Ross A. Lustestica)
The opening of the Peñafrancia farm-to-market
road(FMR) at the municipality of Del Gallego, Camarines
Sur connects said barangay to the national highway as
shown in this photo. Two other rural road access projects are
the Pinagdapian and San Juan FMRs which are all jointly
funded by the DAR & Asian Development Bank (ADB) with
LGU-Del Gallego counterpart, and financial assistance from
the Office of the President’s National Government Assistance
to LGU (NGALGU). The three FMRs has a total length of 4.24
kilometers and total project costs of Php17.233 million.
These rural roads help facilitate the economical and fast
movements of farm produce from the agrarian reform areas
that includes coconut, rice, fruits, vegetables, and aquatic
products among others. (Joey Co)
CAMARINES SUR
BEFORE & AFTER Mode of Transportation. The Socio-economic
impact and benefits of the Caranday-Cristo Rey
farm-to-market road and Caranday-Del Pilar farm-to-market
road at Baao, Camarines Sur includes savings in time
travelling, savings in transportation costs both of passengers
& farm produce, and savings in vehicle operating costs.
The indirect benefits include increase in employment and
livelihood opportunities, increase access to education &
health among others. (Joey Co)
FARMERS TRAINING. Officers of the Farmer organizations
at the municipality of Del Gallego, Camarines Sur who
were recipients of Common Service Facilities (CSFs) from
the DAR’s ARCCESS Project were provided technical
trainings by the Bicolandia Greenfields Development
Organization, Inc. as business development service
provider, last October 7, 2014 at San Juan barangay
hall, Del Gallego. In the photo are the trainers with the
trainees, and the Municipal Agrarian Reform Program
Officer Godofredo Pan, Jr.(rightmost standing) of DAR-Del
Gallego. (Joey Co)
CAMARINES SUR
CAMARINES SUR
DAR Bicol MARPOs undergo a Diagnostic Assessment cum
Learning Session facilitated by Ms. Guia Abalos of ARCDS, and Asec
Augusto P. Quijano serving as resource speaker. Also in photo is ARDO
Rod Realubit (upper left) who welcomed the guests and participants to
the activity. ( MTVGeneral)
DARRO 5 frontliners attend Consultation Workshop on the DAR Citizen’s
Charter (MTVGeneral)
FRUIT OF LABOR. Raymond Olos of DARMO-Ocampo
shows the soon to harvest Ampalaya
(bitter gourd) at the Farmer Field School on
Organic Vegetable Production where women
farmers were trained by the Agricultural Training
Institute (ATI) of DA as a joint endeavor with the
DAR and May-ogob Multi-purpose Cooperative
in May-ogob, Ocampo, Camarines Sur.
(Joey Co)
CSFs. The newly delivered 2-wheel Hand Tractors with
implements which were distributed to selected Agrarian
Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in Camarines
Sur & Camarines Norte.
CAMARINES SUR

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
JAKE L. ROLDAN
Lay-out/Graphic Artist
SENIOR WRITERS
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:
480-5180 local 198
480-5181
darro5info@yahoo.com
facebook.com/DARRegion5
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
The Department of Agrarian Reform Camarines Norte Provincial
Office headed by PARPO Ross Olayres and CARPO Salve Noami
A. Lo of the PPBD Division sealed partnership with Camarines
Norte Federation of Cooperatives (CANOFECO) for the conduct
of CDA mandatory trainings for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
Organizations (ARBOs) assisted by DAR. The conduct of training
started last quarter of 2013 and went on until 2014, benefitting
fifteen (15) ARBOs in the province.
The strengthening of cooperatives especially those assisted by
DAR is in coherence with the ARC Connectivity and Economic
Support Services (ARCCESS) project. The delivery of ARCCESS
projects is channelled through organizationally-mature ARB
organizations that will serve as hub or center of support services
not only of the ARBO but other ARBOs in the community. The
projects are more efficient if the point of entry of agri-enterprise
is through organized groups and not individuals. More mature
ARBOs increase the chance of the program’s success.
For this year alone, eight (8) trainings have been conducted
by CANOFECO as accredited training provider such as Conflict
Management, Parliamentary Procedures, Records Management,
Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants, Internal Control, Rules
Formulation, and Cooperative Standards and Audit Management.
Two more trainings are scheduled to be conducted before end of
this year, the Entrepreneurial and Business Management on 4th
week of November, and Strategic Planning in December.
The standard training curricula
for Cooperative is being prescribed
by the Cooperative Development
Authority (CDA) pursuant to Article
44 of Republic Act No. 9520 and
Rule 7, Section 5 of its Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) which
provides that “Officers of Cooperative
shall be required to undergo
necessary training conducted by
cooperatives, federation, and other
training institutions accredited by the
authority”. The mandatory trainings
focused on the enhancement and
development of the competencies of
the cooperative officers for them to
efficiently carry out their functions
as officers. Except for up-skilling
the officers and Core Management
Team, the trainings are essential for
obtaining Certificate of Good Standing
with the CDA. Non-compliance of this provision is a valid ground
for revocation/cancellation of the cooperatives accreditation with
the Authority.
According to PARPO II Olayres, the conduct of mandatory
trainings are manifestations that DAR is indeed serious in extending
support services to agrarian reform areas considering that all the
trainings are conducted at no cost to the ARBOs.
The fifteen (15) ARBO beneficiaries are Basud Coconut and
Pineapple Cooperative (BACOPICO), Caayunan Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (CMPC), Basud Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
Development Cooperative (BARBDC), Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ARBMPC), Masalong-salong
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMPC), Batobalani Agrarian
Reform Cooperative (BARCO), San Isidro Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries Cooperative (SIARBECO), Sta. Elena Farmers Multi-
Purpose Cooperative (SEFMPC), Capalonga Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries Cooperative (CARBECO), MAGCAISA Agrarian
Reform Community, Brgy. Iberica Cassava and Pineapple
Producers and Processing Association (BICPPPA), Daet-Talisay
River Irrigation System (DTRIS), Kooperatibang Maliliit na
Magniniyog ng Brgy. Kanapawan (KMMBK), Singi Vegetable
Growers Association (SVGA), and Daguit Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries Organization (DARBO).
(Nilla P. Lagatuz/HannahMendoza)
15 ARBOs in Cam. Norte complete CDA mandatory trainings
The Department of Agrarian Reform in Bicol
conducted a three-day Capability-Building &
Technology Training for Community-Based
Enterprise Organizers (CBEOs) in Hotel Villa
Caceres, Naga City on October 28-30, 2014.
Said training was
participated by agrarian
reform beneficiary
organizations under
the first batch of the
Agrarian Reform
C o m m u n i t y
Connectivity and
Economic Support
Services (ARCCESS)
project. It is part of the
preparatory activities
being done by the
Program Beneficiaries
Development sector
of the department in
its aim of developing
a pool of local experts
as farmer-adoptor-trainors
in the 38
ARCCESS sub-project
areas in the region.
“Once capacitated as local extension workers
or farmer-technicians, the ARBs are expected to
act as coaches or mentors to the other farmers in
the influence areas, and they shall also establish
model farms which will serve as learning farms,”
Regional Program Beneficiaries Development
Chief Lerma S. Dino explained during the
interview with the ABS-CBN Bicol.
Meanwhile, Agrarian Reform Beneficiary
Serafin Ariola of Basud ARB Development
Cooperative couldn’t hide his elation on the
many interventions he and his fellow ARBs have
been receiving from the government especially
the DAR. “First the common service facilities
(CSFs), and now this training which is really of
great help to us farmers. In here, we are able to
learn good agricultural practices especially in
pesticide management, and we are also taught
how to properly harvest our crops both for
domestic and export markets, among others,” he
enthused.
Same training shall be conducted to the 2nd
batch of CBEOs on November 17-19, 2014.
A total of 66 CBEOs are expected to benefit
from the two-batch training, who in turn shall
replicate the same know-how to other farmers
in their respective areas.
(MTVGeneral)
1st Batch of CBEOs under ARCCESS undergo training
(1) The PBD Sector, CBEOs & speakers in a group pose; (2)
RPBD chief Dino in an interview with ABS-CBN; (3) RD Boy
Bueno delivering his welcome address to the participants.
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