PLDT ARC bag national award
SAN JOSE, Antique – The Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) comprised of barangays Patria, Luhod-Bayang, Duyong and Tingib (PLDT) in the Municipality of Pandan in northern Antique bagged the national award as the Most Progressive ARC in the country, which was one of the highlights of the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) recently held in Quezon City, said Vicky O. Sandoy Asst. Provincial Marketing Officer.
The on-site validation of the DAR Central Office Evaluation Team proved that PLDT ARC bested other entries of the region in the country due to its high level of achievement on sustainable Rural Development Index (SRDI) of 77.86, 77.52 and 83.36 covering calendar year 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively.
PLDT ARC has a coverage area of 2,047 hectares with 439 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of whom 359 were holders of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) with 80 ARBs as lessees. The five ARC barangays has a combined population of 6,010 with 837 households at average size of 7 family members.
Farm productivity is backed up by infrastructure support systems such as irrigation, farm to market roads, skill trainings on farming technologies, social preparations, and handicraft among others the source said.
The ARBs likewise engaged in varied entrepreneurial activities, poultry/livestock and high value crops.
The PLDT ARC in gaining headway in synergy with education, sanitation, nutrition, potable water system and other amenities demonstrative of "Ramdam and Kaunlaran" particularly in the countryside, the source added. (L. Macavinta/DAR &PS Mabaquiao/PIA)