BULA, CAMARINES SUR — Lirag Agrarian Reform Farmers Beneficiaries Cooperative (LARFBCO), a farmer organization assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial Office of Camarines Sur I, held a Turn-Over Ceremony for acquiring a P5.5 million swine rehabilitation project from the Department of Agriculture (DA) last April 11, 2024 at San Isidro, Bula, Camarines Sur.
The organization secured the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program through the technical assistance of former Agrarian Reform Program Officer I (ARPO) Monalyn Abelinde-Betito (now Records Ofiicer) and continued by ARPO I Beverly Atanante through the guidance of Senior ARPO Ma. Joselita Alerta,. Through this endeavor, the local swine industry expects to recover from the onslaught of African swine fever (ASF) and ensure that more quality hogs and pork will be available in the market.
LARFBCO received a 2,000-square-meter swine facility with a tunnel ventilation system, biogas facility, caretaker shower room, and perimeter fence. With it came 173 piglets to start its operation, with another 127 to follow.
During the event, representatives from the Local Government Unit of Barangay San Isidro, the Municipality of Bula, and the Municipal Agriculture Office were in attendance. Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program, Gerry L. Matamorosa, spoke on behalf of OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Ricardo Garcia and expressed his support for LARFBCO as he sees an even brighter future ahead for the cooperative.
Linking farmer cooperatives with national agencies and other institutions offering development programs and services is one of the many support services DAR Camarines Sur I delivers to its beneficiaries to improve their quality of life.
Written by Nica Stephanie Banaag, ARPO I, DAR Camarines Sur I