Eight towns in Batangas to be transformed into ARCCESS areas

Wednesday 6th of June 2012

LIPA CITY, Batangas, June 6 (PIA) -- Eight municipalities in the province of Batangas are awaiting conversion into an agrarian reform community connectivity and economic support services (ARCCESS) area, according to the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in this city.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Felix Kagahastian said the municipalities of Nasugbu, Lian, Balayan, Lobo, San Juan, Ibaan, Padre Garcia and the Tanuan City were chosen as ARCCESS areas based on their capacity to handle projects, strengthened organizations, and stable leadership in the barangay level.

The ARCCESS is a DAR program not only for the agrarian reform community but for program beneficiaries development areas as well. It is designed to fulfill the needs of an area and to improve the lives of farmers.

In coordination with the University of the Philippines–Los Banos (UPLB) based Agricultural Credit Cooperative Institute (ACCI), trainings will be conducted to farmer-participants according to the projects they are enrolled in.

These are sugarcane block-farming for residents of Nasugbu, Lian, and Balayan; farm mechanization in Barangays Matala, Sabang, Balanga, Pangao, and Quilo in Ibaan town; rice production enhancement in Barangays Quilo-Quilo South, North and Maugat West, Padre Garcia; off season vegetable production in Barangay Bilog-Bilog, Tanauan City; coconut productivity enhancement and copra trading in Barangays Jaybanga, Apar, Biga, and Balibago, Lobo; and coconut trading in Barangay Laiya, San Juan.

Meanwhile, farmers from recipient barangays have extended their heartfelt gratitude for the knowledge they will obtain from the training that would enhance the quality of their living. (CP- PIA 4A, Batangas with report from DAR-Batangas)