Volume 15 No. 2
April-June 2017
8 Pages
Payao Folks Receive P73-Million Irrigation, Road Projects from DAR
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PARPO II Atty. Judith P. Mantos, CARPO-PBDD Floripes Lagutin and Payao Vice Mayor Joel Indino (4th, 5th and 6th from left, respectively) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the rehabilitated Balungisan-Upper Sumilong farm-to-market road project.
ORE THAN P73 million worth of infrastructure projects were turned-over by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to the recipient people’s organization and barangays in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay province. The projects consisted of rehaOn the other hand, a four kilobilitation of a communal irrigation meter-road concreting project, cost system and concreting of a little less than P28 million.Both Balungisan-Upper Sumilong farm- projects were sourced out from Agrarian Reform Community to-market road. The rehabilitated irrigation Project 2 (ARCP 2) and LGU-Payao project is worth P44 million which funds on a 50-50 sharing scheme. Project implementation was could serve 580 hectares of riceland and will benefit 389 members of both a challenge and a rewarding Bulawan-Kulasian-Guiwan Irriga- experience for LGU-Payao followtors’ Association (BKG IA), the ing a double “A” rating inthe recipient farmers’ organization. The recently-concluded assessment for project traverses the barangays of Performance-Based Grant System Bulawan and Guiwan. Continue on page 2
DAR Zamboanga del Sur praised for its success DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM (DAR) Secretary Rafael V. Mariano and Undersecretary Sylvia F. Mallari of the Foreign – Assisted and Special Projects and Project Implementation Office, presented a Plaque of Recognition to DAR - Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Agrarian Reform Office (ZDS PARO) for the successful implementation of the P14.5 million Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 (ARISP3) subprojects in Barangay Damit, San 3Ds Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in the town of Bayog in
Zamboanga del Sur. Among the sub–projects are the P3.5 million warehouse and solar dryer post-harvest facilities which were turned-over to the Damit Multi– Purpose Cooperative (DMPC). Another project is the P3.17 million Potable Water System (PWS) with two reservoirs and 88 tap stands providing water to some 227 households, classrooms and offices in Bayog. The PWS is being managed by the Damit Water System Association which is presently constructing its own office building. Continue on page 2
Regional Director Julita A. Ragandang during the awarding of Plaque of Recognition to DAR Zamboanga del Sur for its successful implementation of the P14.5 million ARISP 3 projects in the province.
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April-June 2017
Payao Folks Receive P73-Million Irrigation, Road Projects from DAR Continued from page 1 (PBGS) initiated by DARARCP2, the MDFO and ADB. Payao-LGU qualified for a 14 million peso worth of project fund which can benefit more recipients and residents. It fell short by one point for a triple “A” rating which could have meant a higher incentive to be devoted for future projects. In her message during the turn-over ceremony, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Atty. Judith Patriarca-Mantos said that DAR-ARCP2-ADB initiated projects aim to reduce poverty and increase income of the farmers especially in areas under agrarian reform community (ARC) and ARC clusters. She added that the projects were realized because of LGUPayao’s commitment to undertake the projects despite
the higher equity to be put up by the involved LGU, because the latter wanted to provide support to its farmers and residents. DAR Regional Project Beneficiaries Development Division Chief Floripes Lagutin said that the projects are manifestation of DAR’s support to its farmer-beneficiaries. Payao Mayor Joepher Mendoza expressed his gratitude to DAR for the projects extended to his municipality and hoped for more working partnership with the agency in the future, especially those which requires lower equity sharing. Early on, LGU-Payao has also turned-over a farm-to-market road traversing the barangays of Balungisan and Guiwan. The farm-to-market road worth 18million pesos is also under ARCP2.
DAR Zamboanga del Sur praised for its success Continued from page 1 The Association maintains a regular savings for emergency necessities and a time deposit as reserve fund. The 3rd DAR-ARISP3 turned over project is a P7.8 Million – 0.7 km. graveled and a 1 km. concreted farm to market road. This project provided an easy and less travel time for ferrying the farmers produce and ease of transportation of the people. These DAR–ARISP 3 projects benefitted 1,925 Damit residents, 385 households, 266 agrarian reform beneficiaries
and the inhabitants of the surrounding barangays. The 4th project under ARISP3 in Bayog is the Organic Vegetable Production. The recognition was bestowed by DAR Secretary Mariano, USEC Mallari with Regional Director (RD) IX Julita A. Ragandang, Assistant Regional Directors Engr. Agnes Y. Maata and Atty. Ramon E. Madroñal to DAR Zamboanga del Sur through its head PARPO II Soria, PBDD Chief Engr. Sisican and Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Nenita C. Gallego.
DAR IX Regional Director Julita A. Ragandang welcomes participants of the Project ConVERGE Kick-off meeting in Dipolog City..
Project ConVerge Implementation Support Mission THE PROVINCIAL office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Zamboanga del Norte hosted the Region-IX kick-off meeting held at Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City on June 20 as preliminary activity of the Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Development (Project ConVERGE). The meeting focused on the economic benefits and interest of the farmer beneficiaries under Project ConVerge, a joint endeavor of DAR and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The meeting was attended by IFAD Country Programme Officer
Jerry E. Pacturan, IFAD Special Adviser Yolando C. Arban, IFAD Project Management Specialist Gomer G. Tumbali, and IFAD National Project Director Faisar Mambuay. Other key officials present were Regional Director Julita A. Ragandang, Assistant Regional Director Agnes Maata and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officers Mohammad Dassan J. Adju, Atty Judith Mantos and Arturo Soria who led the provincial delegations of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur, respectively.
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DAR brings UWARBMPC to Region XII through a study mission A COOPERATIVE in Isabela City was brought to Region XII just recently by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for a learning exposure. Last May 16-17, ten members of United Workers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UWARBMPC) visited two privately-owned farms and one DAR-assisted cooperative in the region as part of the up-valuing intervention of DAR for UWARBMPC which is into the processing of black pepper and coffee products.
UWARBMPC is a cooperative established in the UWARBMPC Agrarian Reform Community (ARC). It has 253 members composed of agrarian reform beneficiaries. Aside from rubber production where it mainly derives its income, the coop is also into members’ savings operation, water refilling business, coffee and durian production and manufacturing of black pepper products. Carol Maruhomadil, DARProvincial Marketing Assistance Officer and the activity’s point person, said that the local study mission aimed to expose the cooperative to the well-
Kablon Farms General Manager Ernesto Pantua, Jr. shares some inputs to UWARBMPC members on black pepper farming.
known farms in the region to draw and learn lessons from. According to her, the farms visited by the group were recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry because they are into business or undertaking similar to that of UWARBMPC. The first farm visited by the group was the 65-hectare plantation owned by the Kablon Farms Food Corporation, a firm operated and managed by the Pantua family. Located in Kablon, Tupi, South Cotabato at the foot of Mt. Matutum, the plantation is fully planted with mixed variety of fruits like
rambutan, passion fruit, mangosteen, guava, lanzones, different varieties of banana, avocado, langka (jack fruit), santol and durian. The farm also boasts of thousands of cacao, coconut and black pepper trees and crops. General Manager Ernesto Pantua, Jr., in his brief lecture, said that his parents started cultivating the farm in the1970s by planting it with corn and abaca crop but decided to also grow fruit trees later. He said that they are into intercropping in order to maximize the use of their farm. Continue on page 7
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DAR Regional Director Julita A. Ragandang headed the conduct of LTS problem-solving and discussion on admin concerns held in Dipolog City on May 25-26. This is to ensure that the best possible solutions are identified to address the land tenure services concerns in the province. Other key officials involved in the problem-solving were Assistant Regional Director for Administration and Finance, Ramon E. Madronal; Assistant Regional Director for Operations Agnes Maata; Regional Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Sarachio and Regional Operations Chief Cathy Alim. The provincial team was headed by PARPO II Mohammad Dassan J. Adju , PARPO I Rizzel Villanueva, PARAD Avito Zamora, LTS Chief Marcelino Soropia, PBD Chief Alfonso Tan and PCAO Samuel Andrew A. Baliton.
The IFAD Mission headed by Country Program Manager Jerry E. Pacturan visited agrarian reform community clusters covered by Project ConVerge in Zamboanga Norte and Sibugay. The mission conducted dialogue-meeting with the rubber farmers. The meeting focused on the economic benefits and interest of the farmer beneficiaries.
Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Head Mohammad Dassan J. Adju recently convened with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Lending Center Manager Vinicius Hamoy and Kennemer Food International (KFI) Area Manager Allan Datu–Imam to discuss on technical concerns relating to cacao growership program in the province.
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Project ConVERGE boosts 2nd year implementation DAR 9 COMPLETES REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL TEAM THE REGIONAL PROJECT Management Office 9 for Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (Project ConVERGE), an endeavor supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the Department of Agrarian Reform, has recently completed its lineup of working staff and specialists for all provinces in the Zamboanga Peninsula. A total of 10 specialists and staff were hired in the region to reinforce the implementation of the project. In a contract signing ceremony held last May 2-3 in Cagayan de Oro City where the project’s central office is also located, the specialists have ironed out their tasks and responsibilities for the year. In the current scheme for ConVERGE, the specialists will be administering to the identified components, namely: the Participatory Value-Chain Analysis and Planning, the Integrated Smallholder Agricultural and Rural Enterprise Development (ISHARED), and the Project Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation and Knowledge Management. Occupying the positions for RPMO9 are as follows: Leonardo Ablao, Value Chain (VC) Specialist; Katrin Anne Arcala, Monitoring and Evaluation and Knowledge Management (M&E/KM) Specialist; Engr. Joseph Labang, Rural Infrastructure Specialist; Alberto Valerio, Administration and Finance Officer; and Sarah Cabaron, Bookkeeper. The respective Provincial Project Management Offices (PPMOs) have also been created with the hiring of their respective VC and M&E/KM Specialists, to wit: Janice Bonggolto and
Edgar Hipega for Zamboanga del Norte, Harriet Bayawa and Graham Peralta for Zamboanga Sibugay and Jerry Fontong and Korina Soriano for Zamboanga del Sur. The specialists and staff are tasked to closely work on the implementation and monitor the results solely for ConVERGE. They will be working hand in hand with organic counterparts at the provincial and regional level, and will be under the supervision of Regional Project Director Julita A. Ragandang and Assistant Regional Project Director Agnes Y. Maata. Year two of implementation Last year, the project kicked off with the preparation of their respective annual work plan and budget for 2016 and 2017. As ConVERGE advances to its second year of implementation, several trainings and workshops as well as procurement are underway. For 2017 alone, all feasibility studies and investment plans have already been finalized to include rubber and rice as the focused crops. According to the Province of Zamboanga del Norte’s Integrated Rubber Enterprise Feasibility Study, their proposal targets to “effectively contribute to the reduction of poverty incidences in the target ARC clusters through sustainable development of smallholder farms and diversification through enhancement of value chain intermediation in the production and post-production processes.” Further, the province, through its Value Chain Component, seeks to address the recurring problems of low productivity and incomes of ARB and non-ARB rubber farmers. Thus, it has covered the replanting and establish-
All set. Project ConVERGE Hired Specialists and Support Staff together with the heads from the CPMO in the contract signing held at De Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. (Lower Row, Third from left) Susan Perez from the Manila Liaison Office (MLO), Regional Project Coordinator Floripes Lagutin, National Project Coordinator Faisar Mambuay, Project Manager Nicanor Peralta. ment of new rubber areas, secondary crops enhancement, capacity building for farmers, enhancement of existing productive rubber farms, and product consolidation and marketing, among others. Meanwhile, the Rubber Agribusiness Project of the Salipyasin Agrarian Reform Cluster for Zamboanga Sibugay is eyeingo “improve the rubber production in the area”, as well as “increase the per capital income of the ARBs and rubber farmers by at least 25%”. Intervention will come in the form of provision of quality planting materials, farm inputs and equipment assistance (fertilizers, pesticides) and labor to support first year requirement. There will also be “capacity enhancement and training of farmers covering key areas of farm establishment, crop maintenance and farm management”. Finally, the project will also look into post-harvest value-adding efforts such as the storing, handling and marketing of products. Lastly, Zamboanga del Sur has also identified their goals and strategies through their study on the Intensified Rice Production and Marketing in the Salug Valley
Cluster. The identified objective of the project is to “reduce poverty incidence in the seven municipalities of Salug Valley by engaging the farmers and cooperatives in value chain-based agricultural processes for the major commodities in the area. This includes productivity enhancement, farm mechanization, processing of raw produce for value addition and marketing/trading of commodities.” This year’s total budget for the region amounts to around P40 million, with P11.5 million for Zamboanga del Norte, P14.5 million for Zamboanga del Sur, and P5.5 million for
Zamboanga Sibugay. Based on the regional office’s plan for 2017, procurement will start by the fourth quarter to cover necessities from office equipment and supplies, as well as farming inputs, postharvest facilities and equipment for provinces. Meanwhile, trainings for staff and coordination meetings for beneficiaries and concerned agencies have already been conducted left and right for the first half of the year and will continue until year end. Also comprising the annual target is the commencement of the Rural Infrastructure projects for more than 8 kms of farm-tomarket roads and a 95-has irrigation system. Prioritized sub-projects will be located at the Municipality of Godod in Zamboanga del Norte and the towns of Mahayag, Tambulig and Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur. Overall goal In his message to the ARBOs of the Zamboanga Region in the recently concluded Implementation Support Mission, IFAD Country Programme Officer Jerry E. Pacturan highlighted that the driving objective of the project is to boost the ben-
eficiaries’ farming capabilities by enabling them to be their own businessmen through participatory approach. “We tackle poverty, and this activity is not for the poorest of the poor but the ones who have capacity. That’s my point in the participatory approach. We need to] understand the farmers and explain the project details to them as well,” Pacturan said. The project, which will run until 2020, has a total project cost of P2.28 billion. A portion of this amount will come from loan proceeds and also from the National Government through DAR and local government units. Farmers, on the other hand, are also expected to have their own counterpart in terms of labor, and a minimal sum in monetary form. Project ConVERGE is the 15th project of IFAD in the Philippines. Its goal is to contribute to the reduction of poverty incidence in 10 target provinces of Regions IX, X, and CARAGA through the promotion of sustainable livelihood activities based on key commodities, such as rice, rubber, coffee, cassava, and coco sugar which are deemed competitive in the areas.
Board Work. Pacturan illustrates the current structure of the integrators, including the ARBOs entire cycle of processing of the rubber products to explain to the rubber farmers. He also elaborates where the project can potentially help, and where business potential also lies.
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April-June 2017
IFAD Mission visits cacao project sites in Zamboanga del Norte
Fatima-Zohra Yagooub (center) from the International Fund and Agricultural Development (IFAD) listens intently as she was briefed on the production and financing schemes of the cacao project and the benefits it will bring to the farmer beneficiaries during the cacao on-site visits in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
THE INTERNATIONAL Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) Office in Rome, Italy represented by Fatima-Zohra Yagooub visited the cacao planting and production communities in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte on April 2325, 2017. The Field Mission serves as a field study for the IFAD on the on-going cacao project in the province. Yaqooub was briefed on the production and financing schemes being adopted for the project and the potential benefits it contribute to the farmerbeneficiaries in terms of income. The field visits was enjoined
by the officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) headed by the Provincial Agrarian Program Officer II (PARPO) Mohammad Dassan J. Adju, PARPO I Rizzel B. Villanueva, Kennemer Food International, Inc (KFI) Area Manager Allan Datu-Imam and Land Bank of the Philippines Lending Center Manager Vinicius Hamoy. Other DAR key officials present were Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Andrew A. Baliton, APCP Point Person Ailene V. Alonzo,Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers Anjanette V. Nemiaga and Nevil Paculanang.
DAR meets with farmers’ group in Zamboanga del Norte THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) headed by Regional Director Julita A. Ragandang convened with the agrarian reform farmer beneficiaries (ARBs) in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte on June 16 to discuss several concerns related to the land acquisition and distribution program of the department. In the dialogue, Ragandang stressed DAR’s commitment to protect the rights of the ARBs and vowed to work and serve for the farmer beneficiaries. Among the issues discussed and resolved were the process of the awarded hectares of agricultural lands, tenurial rights and issues on tenancy . Assistant Regional Director for Administration Ramon E. Madronal Jr., Assistant Regional Director for Operations Agnes Y. Maata and Provincial Agrarian DAR IX Regional Director Julita Ragandang stresses some points during the dialogue with the agrarian reform beneficiaries of Reform Program Officer II Liloy town in Zamboanga del Norte province. With her are (from left-right), PARPO II Mohammad Dassan Adju, ARDA Ramon E. Madronal Jr., ARDO Agnes Y. Maata and PARAD Avito Zamora. Mohammad Dassan J. Adju. Other key officials present in Agrarian Reform Adjudicator Avito Embrado, Operations Chief Agrarian Reform Officer Teodulo the discussion were Provincial G. Zamora, Legal Chief Alfredo Marcelino Soropia and Municipal Yanoyan, Jr.
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DAREA General Assembly EMPLOYEES of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Zamboanga del Norte convened during the conduct of Department of Agrarian Reform Employees Association (DAREA) General Assembly held recently in Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte province. Nanette Pascual, DAREA National President stressed to recognize the basic rights of the DAR employees on its security of tenure and other humane conditions. Also showing support to the employees' welfare and professional development were Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Mohammad Dassan J. Adju, Regional President Suzette Lota and DAR-Zamboanga del Norte President Loreto Sabandal.
DAREA Officers of Zamboanga del Norte together with National President Nanette H. Pascual.
DAR brings UWARBMPC to Region XII through a study mission Continued from page 3 Kablon Farms is into the processing of fruits and other products. Its processed products include tablea, powdered black pepper and chilli, chocolates, fruit jellies, jams and juices flavored with either mangosteen, passion fruit, guyabano, guava, papaya, durian, coconut, pineapple, guyabano or their combination. They are also producing plain or spiced vinegar and virgin coconut oil. After having been accepted by the market, Kablon Farms products are now can be bought in major malls in key cities of the country. The group’s next visit was the processing center of Tupi
Coffee Growers Association Incorporated (TUCOGAI), a municipal-wide association of coffee farmers from the 15 barangays of Tupi. Ava Marie Odal, the association’s manager, informed the group that the association is a mere consolidator of the members’ coffee beans. She recalled that the vast land of Tupi was planted with coffee before. The glory days of coffee in Tupi took place from 1960’s to 1980’s where tons of coffee beans were produced and delivered to nearby provinces. But in the late 80’s, the price of the coffee went down causing the farmers to refrain from cultivating their farms. Since then, the coffee industry in Tupi tumbled down.
However, in 2011, a group of farmers organized an association in order to save as well as to revive the coffee plantations in the province. The organizing of the association paved the way for more government assistance and interventions. Today, TUCOGAI has 194 members, 45 of whom are agrarian reform beneficiaries. The 300 hectares of coffee are now producing at least 100-200 kilos per month. The group made its final stopover at Testado Farm in Sarayan, Pres. Roxas, North Cotabato. Owned by a retired university professor, Mr. Rogelio Testado, the farm is a 13-hectare rubber plantation with a miniprocessing center in it. The
produce of the rubber plantation are processed to become a ribbed smoke sheet rubber, one which is made directly from treated and coagulated latex. The coagulated latex sheets are then dried or smoked in oven. The processing of the smoke sheet rubber, which was personally witnessed by the participants, is a new perspective to which UWARBMPC may also try and venture into. The learnings gained by the group in the course of the study mission paid off the long travel. UWARBMPC participants thanked DAR for bringing them to SOCCSKARGEN Region. “The learning exposure activity was worth participating”, the participants concluded.
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DAR Turns-Over Tilapia Crunch Kits, Pump Boat to Fishermen Coop in Zamboanga Del Sur THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform in Zamboanga del Sur turned-over Tilapia Crunch Kits and conducted a blessing activity for the Motorized Pump Boat of the Laicor - Fisherfolks Employees Cooperative (LAFEMCO) in Balas, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur on June 14. Arturo N. Soria Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II disclosed that LAFEMCO which is a DAR – assisted cooperative with 375 agrarian reform beneficiaries, manages 1,050 hectares of fish pond. He said that the Tilapia Crunch Kits were handed after completing the series of trainings on Tilapia Crunch Enterprise Production under the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) or Links Farm, which aims to linking smallholder agrarian reform beneficiaries to the market. Engr. Josephine G. Sisican, Chief of the Program Beneficiaries Development Division, said that the easy transport of its constituents for ferrying its prawn, crabs and tilapia produce to the mainland markets will start with the acquisition of the motorized pump boat. She said that the ventures are bundled with the following interventions: - The Department of Agriculture’s and DAR’s Agrarian Reform Credit Program (APCP) with P1 Million credit line in tandem with and from the Land Bank
April-June 2017
EDITORIAL STAFF Editors-in-Chief GLORIA M. SARACHO MA. SOCORRO C. REAMBONANZA
Contributing Editors SHANIE P. JACINTO LAILANIE VIC S. VALDEZ ARNETTE COMIQUE JOHN LLOYD CABABAT
Editorial Consultants JULITA A. RAGANDANG, CESO III Regional Director
ATTY. RAMON E. MADROÑAL, JR. ARD for ADMIN. & Legal Services
ENGR. AGNES Y. MAATA Arturo N. Soria (center), PARPO II of DAR Zamboanga del Sur signing the documents for the Tilapia Crunch venture and motorized pump boat.
of the Philippines (LBP). LAFEMCO in connection with this has fully paid its P350,000 initial LBP loan. Now, it is on its P784,320 second cycle loan for its prawn production enterpise. - DAR’s and the Cooperative Development Authority’s 14 mandatory trainings which strengthened and empowered LAFEMCO; and - DAR’s Community – Managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene with a water tank installed, among others. PARPO II Soria conveyed that he is glad of the complementation, convergence and strong partnership of DAR with the local government unit(LGU) of Aurora headed by Mayor Emmanuel Palma, II and the
barangay LGU of Balas. He also said that the ventures in Balas are envisioned to uplift the economic condition not only of the beneficiaries but for the total populace in general. He then enjoined LAFEMCO to be united and work together in harmony, to sustain their lucrative business enterprises to be able to hand down the fruit of their labor as a lasting legacy to the next generations. Mayor Palma thanked DAR – ZDS led by PARPO II Soria and Engr. Sisican for a work well done in LAFEMCO. In closing, Vice Chair Mipalao Sari expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the DAR being a recipient of a
ARD for LTS/TASS For inquiries, please write or call the DAR Regional Office IX, Veterans Avenue Extension, Zamboanga City Telephone No. (062) 955-2155 Email add: dar_reg9@yahoo.com.ph
genuine public service and the rewarding relationships which he experienced from the DAR development facilitators. Other officials present during the activity were Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Allan G. Apao, Kagawad Jarish Sarip, Links Farm Consultant John Barsomo, point person Ruby Flor Consolacion, May Christine V. Bomes, LAFEMCO Chairman Muslimen Israel.