View source for FEATURE: Developing the countryside though agrarian reform

*Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2461463989218/feature-developing-the-countryside-though-agrarian-reform
*Tuesday, May 24, 2016
:By VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO (VHS/PIA-1/Pangasinan)

UMINGAN, Pangasinan, May 24 (PIA) - Endowed with rich natural resources, Pangasinan boasts of farming lands and fishing grounds for its people’s livelihood and development.

In the eastern town of this populated province, agriculture has been its major source of income and sustainability.

The government, remaining true to its commitment to undertake land tenure improvement  and agrarian justice, created the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) under the  Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Its mission is to collectively and effectively implement agrarian reform and sound rural development  and industrialization through the provision of integrated and gender-responsive  land tenure improvement and support service to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB), rural women and landowners.

DAR, in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency, has been touring the country to document success stories of the agrarian reform beneficiaries. Its latest stop was in Umingan town in Pangasinan.

DAR visited the Umingan Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative (UFARCO) in Barangay Luna Este  and obtained a first-hand story on how the beneficiaries’ lives have changed for the better because of a three-hectare lot and farm equipment support from the government.

The farmers in Luna Este and Luna Weste villages who are members of (UFARCO) were able to access individual loans which were used for their squash production. They also collectively market their produce to appropriate markets.

Holding land titles in their hands and farm equipment in the field, life in the mountains has become more comfortable for the beneficiaries.

With the equitable land distribution and ownership, men and women ARBs are empowered. They are now productively managing their economic, social and environmental development for a sustained quality of life.