Secretary Delos Reyes visits Sorsogon

DAR Secretary Virgilio R. Delos Reyes (center)

SORSOGON CITY - DAR Sorsogon got a surprise visit from Secretary Virgilio R. Delos Reyes on a very busy Wednesday October 9, 2013.

Upon arrival, he proceeded to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs), particularly to CABAMUCO (Capuy - Basud Multipurpose Cooperative) in Capuy, Sorsogon City. He was accompanied by Felix E. Fruto, OIC PARPO II; Lucia S. Vitug, OIC PARPO I / CARPO PBDD; and Ignacio Salandanan, ARPT. The farmers are drying palay when he got there. They show him their warehouse where he had a short but fruitful meeting with the CABAMUCO’s Officers. Particularly, he asked them how their production is and what support services they still need. According to the CABAMUCO members, the Secretary through the DAR will give them a project, they were asked to choose between thresher and tractor. But the BOD of CABAMUCO is suggesting the 2 kilometer Farm-to-Market-Road. On the other hand, the Secretary told them that whatever project they may be finalized, the ARBO has still equity to be shouldered.

“It’s better to see your actual situation than rely on papers. That’s why I’m here,” said Sec. Delos Reyes.

Afterwards, he proceeded to Sorsogon Coco Coir Producers Cooperative (formerly Sandigan ng mga Magsasaka)  in Bolos, Irosin, Sorsogon. The members are also busy doing their business. Some groups of women are doing the coco twine. According to them, each one receives Php75.00 for 30 pieces of 15-meter coco twine per day which is quite good than stay in the neighborhood idly. Somehow they can use this money for their school-children’s daily stipend. There are also 2 pairs of couple who weave the coco twine into geonet. Each pair is paid Php600.00 for 2 pieces of 50-meter geonet they made per day. Another member operates the machine to produce geotextile doormat while the rest do other jobs to run the production. All their produce are bought to them by DPWH to be use in their projects particularly in soil-erosion control. 

The Secretary was glad to see that DAR’s support services program is truly served to the farmers. DAR has already provided Fiber Dryer to this ARBO for their geotextiles processing which DAR Secretary wanted to see. Like what he did to CABAMUCO, he also talked to SCCPC’s officers to know how DAR can help them more. He had promised to them to provide three (3) more equipments: Decorticating machine, Baling machine, and Electrical Transformer because he saw that this ARBO deserve such support.

Before leaving the province, he meets the employees of DARPO Sorsogon and made some exchange of ideas with them. [AJ/PIA-5, Sorsogon]