15/10/2026
๐๐๐ฅ ๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ข ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐ง๐. ๐๐, ๐๐๐ฌ๐ง๐
The Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office VIII (DARRO VIII) turned over a Peanut Butter Processing Center worth โฑ500,000.00 to the San Isidro Organic Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SIOFARCO) today, under its Village-Level Farm-Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED), in Brgy. San Isidro, Sta. Fe, Leyte.
The turnover was led by Assistant Regional Director for Administration and Program Beneficiaries Development (ARDA) Ronelo Jose K. Zamora and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Roderick B. Rances, together with Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU)โBurauen Campus Director, Erwin Oscar P. Ripalda and representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Local Government Unit of Sta. Fe, Leyte.
Completed in just three months, the project reflects the strong collaboration among SIOFARCO and partner agencies, from the buy-in session on July 2, 2026, to the groundbreaking on July 29, 2026, to todayโs turnover, demonstrating how collective action can accelerate the delivery of support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
As part of the cooperativeโs market development efforts, Director Ripalda offered to help promote SIOFARCOโs products through the university canteen, opening a potential market for its peanut butter products.
SIOFARCO Chairperson, Rebecca Barredo expressed gratitude to DAR and its partner agencies for their continued support, reaffirming the cooperativeโs commitment to making the project successful for the benefit of its members and the wider community.
โDamo nga salamat ha iyo padayon nga pagsuporta. Naniningkamot kami nga magin malinampuson ini nga proyekto, kay diri la para ha amon kooperatiba kundi para liwat ha bug-os nga barangay,โ she said.
PARPO Rances emphasized that DARโs mandate extends beyond land distribution to providing support services that strengthen farmersโ enterprises and improve their quality of life. ARDA Zamora likewise recognized the contributions of partner agencies, particularly DOST for providing essential machinery and technical assistance, and reaffirmed DARโs continued support for the cooperative.
In her closing message, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I Ellyn G. Dico underscored that the turnover marks the beginning of a more important undertaking: making the facility productive and profitable. She challenged the cooperative to improve its production and marketing efforts to ensure that the processing center translates into tangible gains in membersโ income.
Through the VLFED Project, DAR continues to advance agrarian reform beyond land distribution by empowering ARBs to build sustainable enterprises, increase their income, and create better livelihood opportunities. (MAICA ANNA QUILES)
๐๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฐ๐ด ๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ซ๐ข
