Maganda ang pasok ng taong 2021 sa mga magsasakang Busuangeño mula sa lalawigan ng Palawan dahil sa nakatakdang pamamahagi ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ng may walumpung (80) ektarya ng lupang agrikultural sa102 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), pagkakaloob ng libreng konsultasyon sa usaping agrarian, oryentasyon tungkol sa pagbubuo ng mga suportang serbistyo para sa mga ARB at ang pamimigay ng lupa sa ilalim ng Serbisyong DAR-to-door na gaganapin sa Enero 21-22, 2021.

Ang mga aktibidades, na tinaguriang “Pag-anDAR sa BPR: Serbisyong may Puso, Aarangkada sa Pag- asenso ang mga Busuangeño”, ay dalawang araw na pagpapatupad sa mandato ng DAR sa land tenure improvement, pagkakaloob ng mga kinakailangang suportang serbisyo, at probisyon sa pagkakaloob ng serbisyong legal sa mga ARBs, maliliit na magsasaka and at iba pang manggagawa sa sakahan.

Ayon kay DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones ang mga ipagkakaloob na lupa ay government-owned lands (GOLs), kung saan kasama dito ang Busuanga Pasture Reserve (BPR), na kilala rin bilang Yulo King Ranch (YKR), na mailalagay sa maayos na paggamit dahil ito ay pakikinabangan ng mga magsasakang-benepisyaryo ng departmento.

“Sa napakaraming taon na lumipas, panawagan ng mga magsasaka sa bayang ito na ipamahagi sa kanila ang mga lupain ng pamahalaan. Isang magandang halimbawa ay ang BPR kung saan malaking bahagi ng lupain dito ay napasailalim sa pamamahala ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Forest Management Bureau (FMB). Sa pamamagitan ng pagpirma ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na maisabatas ang Executive Order (EO) No. 75, Series of 2019, noong Pebrero 1, 2019, napabilis ng DAR ang pagprosesong mga lupain sa ilalim ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),” ani Brother John.

Ipinaliwanag din ni Brother John na ang DAR bilang pangunahing ahensiya na magbibigay probisyon sa direksyon at koordinasyon sa pagpapatupad ng EO No. 75, ay seryosong pagpapakita ng pamahalaan sa hangad nito na mabigyan ng lupa ang mga magsasakang walang lupain.

“Kaakibat ng ating mga aktibidades ay ang polisiya ng estado na ipalaganap ang reporma sa lupa tungo sa maayos na pagsulong ng agrikultura, agro-industrialization, at kapayapaan at kaayusan sa kanayunan,” dagdag pa ni Brother John.

Ang libreng konsultasyon ng usaping pang-agraryo ay hahawakan ng mga dekalidad na abogado ng DAR upang tulungan ang mga magsasaka sa Busuanga tungkol sa kanilang mga usaping legal na may kinalaman sa agraryo, samantalang ang oryentasyon sa ARB-organizing support services ay ipatutupad ng Program Beneficiaries Development Division ng ahensiya.

Ang Serbisyong DAR-to Door, ay isa sa pinaka-tampok sa nasabing aktibidad, kung saan ang mga natukoy na mga CARP beneficiaries ay personal na makatatanggap ng kanilang mga titulo ng lupa mula kay Brother John mismo sa kanilang mga lupain o sakanilang mga pamamahay.

Ani Brother John ang mga aktibidades sa Busuanga ay pagpapakita na ang pamahalaan ay nagsisikap na dalhin ang mga mahahalagang serbisyo sa mga tao upang ipalaganap ang makatarungang pamamahagi ng lupa, maipagkaloob ang suportang serbisyo upang madagdagan ang kanilang pagiging produktibo at kita, at maisulong ang kapayapaan at kaayusan sa kanayunan.

###

S&T Community-Based Farm to showcase effectiveness of S&T interventions

Science and Technology Community-Based Farm (STCBF), a technology transfer modality, is an expanded S&T-Based Farm that showcases the effectiveness of S&T interventions derived from R&D outputs of various institutions.

STCBF is a modality developed by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). 

It aims to promote wider adoption of the recommended technologies and enhance active participation as well as empower the community, particularly local government units (LGUs) and community-based organizations in promoting the application of recommended technologies.

Interventions are based on the identified needs of the community. It is implemented by a group of farmers in an organization using their own resources as counterpart.

Led by a Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) or Community Leader (CL), beneficiaries of the STCBF include a cluster of 20 to 30 farmers.

Baseline information on farming practices and production economics of the cooperators are used to measure the success of the project including its diffusion to other farmers in the community or adjacent areas.

With STCBF, farmers benefit through wider adoption of appropriate S&T interventions, sustainable supply of quality farm products and raw materials that increase farm profitability, community empowerment, better supply chain, and improved partnership and linkages with other stakeholders.

Techno-demonstration farm, capacity building, promotion and linkages, and IEC materials are the four components of the STCBF project.

Projects on coffee, ornamentals (Chrysanthemum), bamboo, sea cucumber, seaweeds, dairy buffalo, mango, rice, tilapia, goat, banana, coconut, rubber, shrimp, abaca, jackfruit, cacao, and vegetables were completed in 12 different Regions.

Meanwhile, projects are still being conducted in Region 10 for cacao and Region 12 for rubber. 

Newly approved projects on coffee, bamboo, and Falcata in Mindanao, as well as Gmelina in Luzon will soon be implemented (Marizina B. Javier, Yolanda M. Tanyag, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services).

###

PCAARRD modality to provide quick S&T-based assistance during emergencies and hazards

Science and Technology Action Frontline for Emergencies and Hazards (SAFE) is a technology transfer modality initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) for resilient agri-based enterprises.

It provides S&T-based interventions to prevent or prepare for climate and environment related emergencies and hazards (E&H) in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) sector. 

This is DOST-PCAARRD’s direct contribution to disaster risk reduction and management as well as post-disaster community rehabilitation and reinforcement in the country.

It also aims to establish and maintain an institutional Quick Response Management Program as a technology transfer innovation in response to various emergencies and hazards especially in cases of ecological imbalance brought about by climate change, pollution, and other anthropogenic factors.

Beneficiaries of the SAFE modality are farming and fishing communities and other agri-based enterprises.

SAFE Components include SAFE Iwas; SAFE Ligtas; SAFE Rescue (Pest & Disease); capacity building; organization and policy; information, education, and communication (IEC) development; promotion and awareness; and information and communications technology (ICT) and ICT build-up.

SAFE Iwas are pre-disaster risk reduction activities, which include preparedness or contingency planning, warning and evacuation, and consolidation of preparations for next disasters. It also includes mitigation, risk assessment, and prevention through hazard mapping, hazard and vulnerability assessment, and structural and non-structural measures.

Meanwhile, SAFE Ligtas are post-disaster recovery activities and rehabilitation or restoration of basic services and functions, which takes weeks to months to complete. It also includes reconstruction in the form of full resumption of services and preventive measures, which takes months to years to complete.

Projects on bamboo, cacao, rice, rootcrops, vegetables, banana, and coconut were completed in four regions.

Still being conducted in five different Regions are projects on coffee, vegetables, swine, rice, corn, oyster mushroom, tilapia, pili, and bamboo (Marizina B. Javier, Yolanda M. Tanyag, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services).

###