Launching of ARCP2 in municipalities of Sorsogon, ongoing

News Release
SORSOGON PROVINCE (April 20) – TWO among the six municipalities in Sorsogon, the Casiguran and Irosin towns, launched just recently the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP) being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) all over the Philippines.

ARCP2 is a Foreign Assisted Project (FAP) of DAR funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OPID) which will be implemented in the country from 2009 to 2014.

According to Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Roseller Olayres, whether or not a region is a recipient of ARCP, part of its tax collection will proceed to the ADB and OPID as payment for the government loan. Bicol region is a recipient of the ARCP.

It can be recalled that the Phase I of ARCP was implemented from 1999 to 2007 covering 11 regions including Bicol. The town of Donsol and Sorsogon City were the only recipients during the first implementation of ARCP in Sorsogon.

“Unlike ARCP1, this current Project involved 6 regions: Region IV-B, V, VI, VIII, IX and ARMM. Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon were among the 3 provinces included in the Bicol region,” Olayres bared.

“In the province of Sorsogon, only Sorsogon City and 5 other municipalities namely Casiguran, Irosin, Castilla, Juban, and Bulan are involved in ARCP2,” he added.

“The town of Irosin is indeed very lucky because it has been a recipient of several projects from DAR. And having hard-working leaders, more projects will be underway for this town,” Nelson Espaldon, CARP Officer for PBD (Program Beneficiaries’ Development) said in his message in behalf of PARO Olayres, during the ARCP2 launching in Irosin.

The ARCP2 is in response to majority’s call to provide farmers with support services and was brought to the community in coordination with the local government unit. It has 4 components namely: Community Driven Development (CDD), Agriculture Enterprise Development (AED), Rural Infrastructure (RI), and Project Management. Most important document required in this project is the minutes of Barangay Workshop Consultation (BWC).

“Our role in DAR is to assist the LGUs and the barangays in the preparation of the needed documents for the central government’s approval of their proposed projects. The length of time depends on the community’s cooperation,” Ferdie Balmaceda, Project Consultant said.

“We, in DAR, looks forward to finish the launching in the four remaining municipalities the soonest possible time,” Balmaceda added. (BARecebido/CAGoboli/AArbolente, PIA/DAR Sorsogon)