ORMOC CITY – Regional Director Sheila Enciso of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) was amazed how the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) have improved their quality of lives.
Last week, Enciso, accompanied by Assistant Regional Director for Administration and Land Tenure Security Program, Ma. Fe Malinao, together with the Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers of Ormoc and Tacloban, and Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Tomas Martinez, visited seven ARB organizations who were installed into their awarded lots under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) from 2016 to 2018 in different areas here and in adjacent Kananga town with the help of KAISAHAN, a non-government organization.
She was surprised to see the big difference in the ARBs faces and stories they tell before and at present.
These ARBs received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) many years ago, but struggled for 16 to 20 years before they were able to take possession of the awarded lots either due to strong resistance from the previous landowners or conflict between two contending groups of farmers.
Enciso was happy to see these farmers, who once stared fiercely due to frustrations, now smiling and full of inspiring stories to tell, because aside from the support services extended by DAR, they also get assistance from other government agencies.
In Barangay Sumangga, Pablo Silva, 56, president of the Sumangga United Farmers Association (SUFA), installed in 2016, showed to Enciso their livelihood project, a mushroom production they started in December last year through the assistance extended by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Silva disclosed that mushroom production is one of their sources of livelihood now. Mushroom grows fast and are sold at P300 for every kilo, Silva shared.
He added that in a day they could harvest nine kilos.
In Barangay Dolores, Benedicto Taneo, president of the Dolores Farmers Association (DOLFA), brought Enciso to their demo farm and shared that they will soon be graduating from the Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitated by the City Agriculturist’s Office.
He disclosed that after FFS, they will be venturing in upland rice (locally known as calinayan) production and marketing.
In Barangay Salvacion, Bienvenido Matuguina shared that he invested part of his income, derived from the sugarland awarded to him, in calamansi production. At present, he has more than 100 calamansi-bearing trees planted in another lot.
He also disclosed that their organization, the Salvacion Farmers Association, has likewise 300 calamansi trees planted in preparation for the calamansi processing project they are planning to venture once the project proposal they submitted to DOST is approved.
In Barangay Sabang Bao, Enciso was caught by surprise when the ARBs, who were installed in April last year, were already harvesting rice in their awarded lots when she arrived; while in Barangay Montebello, the ARBs were peacefully preparing their once contested land to be planted with corn.
Meanwhile, Arnulfo Perez whom we had interviewed two years ago, proudly announced that he is now the president of their organization, the Valencia Small Farmers Association (VASFA).
In the afternoon of the same day, all concerned ARBs gathered in Barangay Montebello for a dialogue with Enciso.
During the said occasion, Enciso expressed her happiness upon seeing them living an improved quality of life as envisioned under CARP.
She likewise reminded the ARBs to continue keeping the land productive. Further, she encouraged those who have children entering college this coming school year to avail of the DAR Scholarship Program for the Dependents of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (DSP-DARBs), a new assistance program extended by the agency to its ARBs. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)

Former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial aspirant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday congratulated new doctors belonging to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, saying they are kindred spirits united by their dedication to serve the people.
In his message before the new doctors during the recognition rites held at the Vikings in Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Go also urged them to value service above all, noting that service to the people is also service to God.
“Unang-una gusto kong batiin ang mga miyembro ng Seventh Day Adventist Church na nakapasa ng Physician Licensure Examination at ngayon ay ganap nang mga doktor. Nagbigay karangalan kayo sa inyong pamilya, simbahan at pamayanan,” Go said.
Among the new doctors who belong to the Seventh Day Adventists are three of the top 10 in the 2019 Physician’s Board Exams for March 2019, namely Clinton Rosita Rabadon of West Visayas State University-La Paz (1st place), Dale Ivan Aurigue Bruel of the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (7th) , and Wilma Cleo Yvonne Borja Dapog of Cebu Doctor’s University-College of Medicine.
“Galingan po ninyo ang inyong propesyon dahil kailangan kayo ng ating bayan. Alam ko bilang mga miyembro ng inyong simbahan malakas ang pananampalataya ninyo sa Diyos at inaalay ninyo sa kanya ang bawat tagumpay na inyong nakakamit. Sana lagi ninyong isa-isip ang paglilingkod sa kapwa ay paglilingkod sa Diyos,” he added.
Go said doctors and health workers are close to his heart because they share a common advocacy, noting that among his top priorities is the improvement in the delivery of medical services.
“Malapit sa puso ko ang mga doktor at iba pang health care professionals dahil kalusugan po ang isa sa mga prayoridad ko,” Go said.
“Iisa po ang ating misyon, and we have the same passion—to serve the community and to serve the people, because for us, tayong lahat, para sa atin ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po sa Diyos,” he added.
Go lamented that in going around the country, he noticed that many public hospitals lack enough facilities and equipment to handle the number of patients.
“Isang kama, dalawa o tatlong bata. Paano gagaling ang mga pasyente kung ganun po ang kanilang kalagayan?” said Go, who is pushing for additional funding for public health institutions.
He also pointed out that during his stint as SAP, he had helped President Rodrigo Duterte in establishing Malasakit Centers as part of their shared vision to help poor patients.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Center is a program of the Duterte administration meant to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.
Go is pushing for a law that would institutionalize Malasakit Center and enable the establishment of such centers in more provinces and key urban areas in the country.
Meanwhile, Go also thanked the leadership of the Seventh Day Adventist Church for giving him the opportunity to meet and address their congregation during their gathering.
“Masaya po ako na binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita po dito…Salamat po sa pagkakataong ibinigay ninyo sa akin na makahalubilo at makapagsalita sa inyo at maibahagi ko po ang pareho nating layunin,” Go said.
He also thanked the church for their support to President Duterte and his campaign against criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption.
“Salamat po sa tulong at suporta ninyo kay Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang kampanya,” Go said.
The former SAP had been consistently saying that he fully supports the programs and policies of President Duterte, particularly the campaign against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs.
“Ipapagpatuloy ko po ang mga pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.
Other priority concerns under Go’s legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, education, housing for the poor, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of OFW and improved benefits for senior citizens.