DARPO-Cagayan Implements ARCCESS

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial Office of Cagayan has identified eight (8) Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) in seven (7) municipalities to be recipients of the department’s new program entitled “Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity Economic Support Services” (ARCCESS) which aims to accompany provision of lands to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) plus provision of support services in order to increase ARBs’ income, enhance self-confidence and finally uplift their conditions of living.

As of this date, there were three (3) project proposals that were already approved for funding by the National ARCCESS Program Coordinating Office (NAPCO). One each for the three districts covering the province of Cagayan. For the first district which includes the municipalities of Lallo, Camalaniugan and Sta. Teresita, for the second district Ballesteros and Abulug and for the  third district the municipalities of Solana and Tuao, respectively. The proposals were entitled “Integrated Pre and Post Harvest Facilities for Rice Production and Trading” with a total project cost of Php 62,079,908.00. This project shall benefit eight (8) cooperatives namely Naguillian Christian MPC, Juzicasmin MPC, Micavice MPC, Micavice IA, Nararagan MPC, Golden Harvest Cluster MPC, SOWESFACO and Salamin MPC. It is expected that the project shall benefit 4,370 coop members, 2,072 members of which are ARBs in the said organizations.

The NAPCO has already instructed DARPO-Cagayan to commence the contracting of professional service providers from different government offices which shall be responsible for the implementation of the project. Cagayan province has already initiated the preparation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Cagayan State University including the accreditation of the university documents by the Central Office.

           

DARPO-Cagayan and Cagayan State University have gone far as to their activities to be undertaken for the implementation of ARCCESS Program, from MOA signing on April 20, 2012 to the Presentation of Needs and Design Assessment Proposal which took place on April 23, 2012. And other activities like, Draft Copy of Needs and design Assessment to be submitted to NAPCO, Joint Meetings between CSU-DARPO-MARO-DFs-ARBOs, Initial Immersion ARBO Level, Deployment of CSU Staff, Data validation and Gathering up to the Final Report which all took place from the period of April 25, 2012 – May 30, 2012.

           

Other projects As DAR continues to expand its projects for the province it is expected that there are three pipe line project proposals awaiting. For the District I’s project proposal entitled “Integrating considered are: (1) Pre and Post Harvest Facilities for Rice Production and Trading; (2) Provision of Common Service Facilities cum Grains Trading;  and (3) Mechanized Corn Production and Trading.

The municipalities of Sta.Ana, Gonzaga, Gattaran, Rizal, Piat (with Maduvika ARC, Cambass ARC, Sunrise ARC, Malaueg ARC and Madovilla ARC as the proponent ARCs) will be the recipients of these projects. /mtb

CARP farmer-beneficiaries receive livelihood trainings

RIZAL, CAGAYAN-Some 70 agrarian reform beneficiaries/members of the Malaueg Savings Traders Cooperative (MALASATCO) and Rural Improvement Club (of Malaueg, Rizal) attended a skills demo and training under the Synchronized Target Seminar of the Departmentof Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

      The above-named organizations are the key peoples’ organizations (POs) within the MALAUEG Agrarian Reform Community (Malaueg ARC) in Rizal, Cagayan. 

      The activities involved skills trainining such as mango puree, dried mango and mango chutney; (2) processing bananas into banana chips, banana vinegar, and banana catsup and processing of banana blossom. 

     Also included in the training were costing, pricing, enterprise and financial management for coop officers. The trainings were conducted on November 12-15, 2012 at Rizal, Cagayan and were funded by the DAR Provincial Office of Cagayan. /cds

DAR approves Php26-million ARCCESS projects for Lallo ARB Coop

Lallo, Cagayan – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has approved the funding for projects worth P26 million in favor of the Naguillan Christian Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Naguillan Christian MPC) under the Agrarian Reform CommunityConnectivity and Economic Support Services program (ARCCESS).  

     The ARCCESS program aims to improve farm productivity, increase the CARP beneficiaries’ net income and also sustain the farmers’ livelihood by improving the organizational management capabilities of organizations being managed by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) through agri-enterprise development. 

     The ARCCESS program is a government initiated activity in pursuance to the mandate of R.A. 6657 (CARP), now known as CARPER (R.A. 9700) after the former was amended and extended. It involves the participation of state colleges and universities, civil society organizations, private institutions and other stake holders aimed at providing a wide range of services to improve the performance of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in terms of agri-enterprise, access to markets, product development, ability to compete with other businesses, and participate in economies of scale. 

     As such, the Naguillan Christian Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Lallo, Cagayan shall be receiving assistance in the form of provision and construction of common service facilities (CSF), such as: post harvest facilities, truck, warehouse, mechanical dryer, etc. It also includes the provision of financial management trainings to ensure the sustainability of the project which will be managed by the cooperative.

     The cooperative was recently visited by no less than DAR Secretary Virgilio de Los Reyes sometime in November 2012 during the conduct of the capability assessment of the cooperative. /cds

DAR Secretary Virgilio de Los Reyes with DAR Region 02 Director Atty. Marjorie Ayson-Alzate, et. al., at the Naguillan Christian MPC in Lallo, Cagayan.

A better warehouse is needed to improve the storage system of the Coop.

The Coop's existing mechanical dryer.

Sec. Virgilio de Los Reyes in a meeting with the members and officers of the Coop.
(Photos by: DAR Regional Office 02) 

DAR Peeps You Should Know: Jojo Juan, OIC-Head, PMEU

The PMEU, or the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, is  section in the DAR Provincial Office of Cagayan province that is tasked with Database Management, among other things. It is also tasked with monitoring, administration and maintenance of databases and database groups in the DAR Provincial Office.

A Database is an organized collection of data, usually in digital form today, which is systematically organized to model relevant aspects of reality such as, land acquisition and distribution, support services, legal services, etc.

Hence, the PMEU organizes information related to Land Tenure Improvement (land acquisition and distribution), databases pertaining to program beneficiaries development, the delivery of agrarian justice, and recently, the conduct of the Agrarian Reform Communities Level of Development Assessment (ALDA) and feed backing thereof.

The ALDA is conducted yearly by the Department of Agrarian Reform. This yearly activity is conducted to obtain information about the different aspects of development in the agrarian reform communities. It shows basic indicators at the community level and builds an index for each of the key result areas, providing an overall index for analysis. It measures the ARC’s development, hence, if the interventions among key result areas are implemented, it will show that rural development is feasible.

Additionally, it maintains the Field Operations (FO files) Database, the ARC  Monitoring and Tracking System (ARC-MTS), the EP-CLOA Information System (EPIS/CLOAIS), our Sectoral Reports, etc., a tough job for such a small office unit.

The PMEU is headed by Mr. ELVERITO A. JUAN, Computer Programmer II, who is the OIC-Head of the Unit. He is married to Rosalinda Valdepenas and gifted with two kids. He is joined in the PMEU by Engr. Albert “Jack” Paguirigan, Engineer II; Esther Quizzagan, Assistant Statistician; and Fritz Irigayen, Administrative Aide II.

They not only gather data, but also assist in the conduct of analyses from such data/information that support processes requiring accurate information. JOJO, as we call him is a silent type, hard working individual. Their outputs are actually a big help for DAR personnel in the field offices as it helps in a significant way in tracking the various landholdings for acquisition and distribution which graduates into the generation and registration of EP/CLOA titles in favor agrarian reform beneficiaries. /cds

Agrarian Reform Community Products at Aggaw Trade Fair

TUGUEGARAO CITY, June 23, 2012- Products from the Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Cagayan province were featured among the various LGUs’ trade fair booths participating in the 429^th Aggaw Nac Cagayan, a celebration of the civil government founding anniversary of Cagayan province from June 23 to 29, 2012. 

An ARC is a barangay at the minimum or a cluster of contiguous barangays where there is a critical mass of farmers and farm workers awaiting the full implementation of agrarian reform. The farmers and the farm workers will anchor the integrated development of the area.

           Among the ARC products on display and also being sold at the trade fair booths are: Banana Vinegar from PATASDA ARC in Allacapan; candied Tamarind Balls and Tamango (tamarind with mango) from Nasuerteca ARC in Amulung; Banana Chips fromESTEMARCONBAGA ARC also from Amulung; Mango puree and Banana Chips from MALULANI ARC in Sto Nino; Bamboo Lamps fromROBA ARC in Enrile; Milk Candies from Southcag ARC in Tuguegarao City; Organic Rice from SOWESFACO ARC in Solana; Roasted Peanuts from Greenfields ARC in Alcala; and a lot more organic fruits and vegetables from various ARCs. Most of the featured ARC products are on display by the LGUs because they are also the One-Town, One-Product (OTOP) adopted by the municipalities where the ARCs are located.

         The Aggaw Nac Cagayan is celebrated at the Cagayan Sports Complex where activities such as talents shows, painting exhibits, livelihood seminars, beauty contests, tournaments (Chess, Billiards, etc), concerts and fireworks. cds

SWIP-Based Aquaculture Livelihood Project Launched

Liwan Norte, Enrile, Cagayan -The local government units (LGU) of Cagayan province and Enrile town, in partnership with the Irrigators Association, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management under the Department of Agriculture, established a 20-hectare small water impounding project (SWIP) at Liwan Norte, a once sleepy village in the rural fourth class municipality of Enrile, Cagayan. It has dramatically transformed the lives of subsistence farmers and CARP beneficiaries.

The SWIP supplies irrigation water to some 104 hectares of farmlands and also serves as a fishpond which has increased fish production in the area. Presently, the fishpond has a stocking density of 5,000 fingerlings per hectare with a survival rate of 60%. There are also fish cages in the pond (5 x 10 x 2.5 meters) with a stocking density of 25 pieces of fingerlings per cubic meter with a 90% survival rate. According to the members of the Liwan Norte Irrigators Association, they have harvested more than 700 kilos of fish mainly tilapia from the 50-hectare Liwan Norte Small Water Impoundment Project since the start of fishing operation.

On April 15, 2011, the Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP)-based Aquaculture Livelihood Project was launched here through the Department of Agriculture, represented by Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, who said that the government will continue to provide financial and technical support to the agricultural producers, but it is the producers who shall have the responsibility to maintain the facilities and sustain production.

Also present during the launching of the SWIP-Based Aquaculture Livelihood Project were Cagayan Gov. Alvaro T. Antonio and Congressman Randolph S. Ting of Cagayan’s 3rd District. They also encouraged the Enrile-LGU to develop the site into an eco-tourism park where boating, mountain biking, hiking, fishing and other tourism activities can be undertaken by quests and tourists especially during the summer. They gave their full support to the project including the development of farm-to-market roads, as the area is around fifteen kilometers from the national highway over winding and hilly gravel roads. /cds

PRIMER On Agricultural Leasehold System

What are the Laws on Leasehold?

Republic Act No. 1199 – An Act to Govern the Relations Between Landowners and Tenants of Agricultural Lands, August 30, 1954. Under this law, the tenant was given the right to choose a leasehold tenancy arrangement.

Republic Act No. 3844 – An Act known as Agricultural Land Reform Code Instituting Land Reform in the Philippines, including the abolition of Share Tenancy and the Channeling of capital Into Industry, August 8, 1963. Declared agricultural share tenancy to be contrary to public policy and was, thereby, abolished.

Republic Act No. 6389 – an Act amending R.A. No. 3844, known as the AgriculturalLandreform Code, and other purposes, September 10, 1971. Provided for the automatic conversion of agricultural share tenancy to agricultural leasehold.

Republic Act No. 6657 – The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, June 15, 1998. Mandated DAR to determine and fix immediately the lease rentals. Made all tenanted lands subject to leasehold.

What are the implications of the above-cited laws? The significant implications are: (1) abolition of share tenancy and conversion to agricultural leasehold now covers all agricultural lands without exception; (2) leasehold is no longer just an option, it exists by operation of law; and (3) leasehold can be a preliminary step to land ownership (areas covered by CARP). All share crop tenants were therefore, automatically converted into agricultural lessees as of June 15, 1988 whether or not a leasehold agreement has been executed. Landowners’ share is 25% of the produce while the lessee’s share is 75% of the produce.

What are the conditions set for tenancy relationship to exist? All the following conditions must be present for tenancy relationship to exist: (1) That the parties are the landholder and the tenant; (2) That the subject is agricultural land; (3) That there is consent by the landowner for the tenant to work on the land; (4) That the purpose is agricultural production; (5) That there is personal cultivation or with the help of the immediate farm household; and (6) That there is compensation in terms of payment of a fixed amount in money and/or produce.

What is personal cultivation? There is personal cultivation if the tenant cultivates the land himself/herself or with the aid of the immediate farm household. Immediate farm household refers to the members of the family of the lessee (tenant) and other persons who are dependent upon him/her for support and who usually help him/her in the activities.

What is cultivation? Cultivation is not limited to the plowing and harrowing of the land, but also husbanding of the ground to forward the products of the earth by general industry, the taking care of the land and fruits growing thereon, fencing of certain areas, and the clearing thereof by gathering dried leaves and cutting grasses. In coconut lands, cultivation includes the clearing of the landholding, gathering of coconuts, their piling, husking and handling, as well as the processing thereof into copra, although at times with the aid of hired laborers (Coconut Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals, 164 SCRA 568; Hernandez vs. Court of Intermediate Appellate Court, et. Al., 189 SCRA 758).

Is there tenancy relationship where squatters are allowed by the landowner to cultivate the land for free? No, agricultural tenancy does not exist in this case since there is no expressed or implied agreement to undertake the cultivation of the land belonging to the landholder. No agreement exists in terms of share in harvest or payment in a fixed amount. It is, however, possible for the parties to subsequently enter into a leasehold relationship.

When shall tenancy relationship cease to exist? The agricultural leasehold relation is extinguished by any of the following: (1) abandonment of the landholding without the knowledge of the agricultural lessor/landholder; (2) voluntary surrender of the landholding by the tenant-lessee after giving notice to the lessor three (3) months in advance; or (3) absence of an heir to succeed the lessee in the event of his/her death or permanent incapacity. The leasehold relation is likewise extinguished when the lessee’s dispossession of the land is authorized by the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) or by the proper court in a judgement that is final and executory, for violations of the leasehold agreement or pertinent provisions of agrarian laws on leashold.

What are the grounds for dispossession/ejectment? (1) The tenant failed to substantially comply with the terms and conditions of the leasehold contract or with laws governing leasehold relations, unless the failure is caused by a fortuitous event or force majeur; (2) He/she planted crops or used the land for a purpose other than what had been previously agreed upon. DAR A.O. No. 05-93, however, now allows the tenant-lessee to intercrop or plant secondary crops after the rentals has been fixed, provided he/she shoulders the expenses; (3) He/she failed to adopt proven farm practices necessary to conserve the land, improve its fertility, and increase its productivity; (4)His/her fault or negligence resulted in the substantial damage, destruction, or unreasonable deterioration of the land or any permanent improvement thereon; (5)He/she does not pay the lease rentals when it falls due except when such non-payment is due to crop failure to the extent of 75% as a result of fortuitous event; or (6) He/she employed a sub lessee. The dispossession shall be by a final and executory judgment.

When is hired labor allowed? The lessee (tenant) can only employ hired labor if he/she is temporarily incapacitated and has no immediate family household who will do the cultivation.

Is the agricultural leasehold relation extinguished by death or permanent incapacity of any of the parties? No, in case the tenant-lessee dies or is permanently incapacitated, the leasehold relation shall continue between the agricultural lessor (landholder) and the member of the lessee’s immediate farm household who can personally cultivate the land. Such person shall be chosen by the lessor within one month from such death or permanent incapacity from the following: (1) the surviving spouse; (2) the eldest direct descendant by consanguinity; or (3) the next eldest descendant or descendants in the order of their age. If the death or personal incapacity of the lessee occurs during the agricultural year, the choice by the lessor shall be done at the end of that agricultural year. If the lessor fails to exercise his choice within the prescribed period, the above-mentioned order of priority shall be followed. In case of death or permanent incapacity of the lessor (landholder), the leasehold relation shall bind his/her legal heirs.

What is the effect of transfer of legal ownership of the land? Leasehold is not extinguished with the transfer of legal ownership of the land from one landowner to another. The law provides that the purchaser or transferee shall be subrogated to the rights and substituted to the obligations of the agricultural lessor.

/cds’06