ILOCOS SUR, Aug. 9 (PIA) - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Provincial Office of Ilocos Sur has rolled-out the Components 2 and 3 of the agency's project dubbed as "The PaSSOver: ARBold Move for Deliverance of ARBs from COVID-19 Pandemic" or ARBold Move.

The Components 2 and 3, which are the farm productivity assistance to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and the support to women in crisis situation, are part of DAR's initiative in response to the COVID-19 national health crisis largely affecting the country's agricultural sector.

Christianne Suguitan, provincial agrarian reform program officer of DAR-Ilocos Sur, said the ARBold Move is the agency's small way of complementing the COVID-19 response projects of other national government agencies, focused on its ARBs.

Component 2 was rolled out beginning on July 17 and ended on the first week of August.

There are 284 ARBs under this component who received fertilizers and seeds of identified cash crops suitable for planting in the province to ensure their agricultural production, livelihood and income amidst this health crisis.

"This project component seeks to assist in addressing food security concerns of our farmers and to help them cope with the impact of the community quarantine brought by the pandemic," she told the Philippine Information Agency.

On the other hand, the Component 3 of the project which is the livelihood support for women in crisis situation would highlight and empower women ARB's role in agricultural production.

For this, 15 women-in-distress ARBs received starter-supplies composed of two heads of hogs and starter feeds for small businesses to help them earn income at this time of pandemic.

Suguitan said that beneficiaries were chosen based on the loss of income stemming from the health crisis.

COMPONENT 3. Milagros Rodillas of Ayusan Norte-Pantay ARC Cooperative, one of the beneficiaries of the Component 3 of the ARBold Move project, is grateful to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Ilocos Sur for the starter-supplies composed of two heads of hogs and starter feeds they received to use for small businesses to help them earn income at this time of pandemic. (photo from DAR-Ilocos Sur)

Milagros Rodillas of Ayusan Norte-Pantay ARC Cooperative, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the agency for this livelihood assistance.

"Nagpapasalamat kami sa tulong mula sa DAR na dalawang biik at starter feeds. Kahit na may pandemya, nakuha niyo pa rin kaming saklolohan sa pamamagitan ng mga tulong na ito. Maraming salamat!", Rodillas said.

Other components of the project are Component 1 which is the continuous market matching of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations' products with steady markets and in Ilocos Sur, buyers are the local government units and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; while the Component 4 is the distribution of food packs and hygiene kits to about 600 ARBs in 26 municipalities of the province held in May.

Meanwhile, during the Laging Handa Network Briefing News aired on Friday, Assistant Secretary Jonjie Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant to the Visayas said that in Western Visayas, they have allocated Php1.06 billion assistance to farmers under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act expected to benefit 210 farmers and expected to increase rice production to 200,000 metric tons.

"Last year, the region's rice production was 2.77 million metric tons," Asec. Gonzales said.

The Laging Handa Network Briefing News airs from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Radyo Pilipinas on Mondays to Fridays hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.

The program can also be viewed at the Philippine Information Agency's regional and provincial Facebook pages around the country. (JCR/AMB/PIA Ilocos Sur)