DAR not a failure in Aklan – PARO
Banga, Aklan -- For twenty years, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gave the province of Aklan some P220 million worth of projects in the form of trainings, bridge construction and farm to market roads – proving that throughout its existence helping farmers and other agricultural sectors, it was not a failure in this province.
In his welcome remarks at the 20th Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) anniversary celebration at the Aklan State University (ASU) Conference Hall here, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Atty. Daniel Y. Martelino also said that for twenty years, DAR was in the forefront of agricultural development in Aklan.
"When the Department of Agriculture was devolved, nobody took care of the farmers but DAR", PARO Martelino said, in defense of his agency which some sectors blame for the country's food production shortage.
Martelino said that in fact, it was the Provincial Agrarian Reform Committee (PARCOM) that passed a resolution asking the President to strengthen the Department of Agriculture.
In Aklan, Martelino said some 1,200 hectares of land still need to be distributed under CARP, even as the program is supposed to end today, June 10.
Although some lawmakers favor CARP's extension, Atty. Martelino said some also said that the program could be extended but would be focused on support services already and not on land distribution, which he said would also be fine enough.
Atty Martelino claimed that one of the biggest support services DAR has gifted Aklanons with was the construction of Timbaban Bridge in Madalag. He also took pride in DAR's role in building the "Road to Aparicio", an upland barangay in Ibajay, Aklan, and the road to Tag-osip, Buruanga, which contributed much to the positive change in the economic status of residents in the area.
Aklan's lone representative to Congress, Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores, who was supposed to grace the celebration, expressed earlier that he favors CARP Extension.
PARO Martelino said Rep. Miraflores was in Congress instead attending the session to help work for the extension of CARP.
He expressed his gratitude to Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores and Governor Carlito Marquez for being the top allies of CARP in Aklan.
Governor Marquez, who was present, expressed optimism that CARP will be extended for another five years, and urged those present, composed of DAR employees, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)/awardees, Diosdado Macapagal Sholarship Program Scholars and the local media to think positive and look forward to its extension.
Gov. Marquez also commended CARP for complementing Aklan's twin economic program for development – agriculture and tourism.
During the celebration, DAR also awarded plaques and tokens to Land Tenure Improvement Performers, Program Beneficiary Performers, Most Outstanding Agrarian Reform Beneficiary, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Scholars, certificates of appreciation to media partners, and tokens and certificates to its ten retirees. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)