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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Friday, August 23, 2013

Country's first DAR-PCA coco seedlings dispersal program launched in Bicol

BY: BY JOSEPH JOHN J. PEREZ

LEGAZPI CITY, August 23 (PIA) – Being known for coconut-inspired menu with its famous laing (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) and other cocomilk-based native recipes and delicacies,Bicol region is seen to become the country's coconut capital as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) launched their first collaboration for the Coconut Seedlings Dispersal Project (CSDP) in the entire country.

“PCA reveals that Bicol is their first area with a partnership with DAR for coconut rehabilitation,” DAR-Bicol regional director Maria Celestina Manlagñit-Tam said.

With DAR’s initiative, a partnership was forged with PCA-Bicol led by Officer-in-charge Eduardo Allorde, Tam added.

Initially under the project, a total of 124,750 seednuts are being readied for planting to 1,098 hectares benefiting 1,135 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Masbate. Catanduanes and Sorsogon are still in the process of project preparation such as conducting seminars and identification of locations and beneficiaries.

In Albay, the identified project location is the Balogo Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) covering 192 hectares benefiting 200 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with total 20,000 seednuts of which 7,000 were already outplanted being the project’s pilot area.

The Dogongan ARC in Daet, Camarines Norte has 19,750 seednuts to be planted in 150 hectares with 130 ARBs.

Camarines Sur A will have 20,000 seednuts to be planted in 150 hectares in F. Simeon ARC in the municipality of Ragay with 50 ARBs to benefit from the program. Meanwhile in Camarines Sur B, Del Pilar ARC in Garchitorena is the project’s largest site with 246 hectares of land that will be planted with 45,000 seednuts with 395 ARBs as beneficiary.

In Masbate, two ARCS, Lantangan in the town of Mandaon and Curvada in Cataingan town will benefit from the coco project. Lantangan ARC will dedicate 216 hectares for the project wherein 216 ARBs will cultivate 12,000 seednuts. In Curvada ARC, 8,000 seednuts will be planted to 144 hectares with 144 ARBs benefitting from it.

Under the project, PCA provides planting materials such as coconut seednuts and seedlings, technical assistance on nursery establishment and operation, extension services, and regular monitoring of the progress of the project.

On the other hand, DAR identifies suitable lands where the project can be implemented. DAR Bicol also identifies the target municipalities and barangays with capable Peoples Organizations (PO) and provides local counterpart contribution for trainings and capacity building for beneficiary organizations.

The beneficiary organizations provide labor for the establishment and operations of the nursery project, formulation of policies on selection of farmer beneficiaries and roll-over scheme, which DAR Bicol will return the same value received in kind equivalent to 100 good quality seednuts per hectare seven years after planting that will be distributed to the succeeding beneficiaries, DAR Bicol told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

“We are intensifying our coconut production given the industry potential with Bicol’s large areas ideal for coconut plantation,” Tam said. (MAL/JJJPerez-PIA5/Albay)

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