CATBALOGAN CITY- It is over three months since super Tyhoon Yolanda wrought havoc in the Visayas regions that cost lives and leaving severe damages to the economic livelihood and properties in these regions, yet, the victims are still in dire need of assistance to which every agency and sector, local and foreign, is trying to address.
At the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the focus of its intervention is on the farmers in worst hit agrarian reform communities (ARCs).
In an effort to revive the livelihood industry of the affected farmers in the ARCs, a rapid survey and assessment was conducted by DAR late last year in partnership with the United Nations’ World Food Programme to come up with information as to priority areas in the province needing immediate assistance.
Headed by provincial agrarian reform program officer I Segundino L. Pagliawan, another round of survey is being undertaken in the ARCs of Marabut, Basey and Sta. Rita, having been identified as the worst hit municipalities in Samar per result of the rapid survey earlier conducted.
The survey is to come up with a master list of the farmers in said areas who shall directly benefit from the program.
Included in the survey is gathering of data on the available labor force of the affected family within the ARC; the extent of damage on community facility or assets specifically related to farming like irrigation; and farm areas still filled with debris caused by the super typhoon that needs clearing; or any other needed farm inputs.
Information on family with no labor-abled body is also included in the survey to come up with an appropriate project and assistance that can be delivered to them under the same program.
Under the auspice of the Sustainable Livelihood Recovery Program, the affected farmers shall render labor on their own respective areas; the UN-WFP shall pay the farmer for the labor rendered-one laborer per family under the cash for work sub-project of the program; and DAR shall implement monitor and supervise the implementation of the program in the identified affected areas.
Per preliminary report from the Program Beneficiaries Development Division of DAR Samar, it reveals that about 200 farmers in 20 barangays within the ARCs of the said municipalities would benefit from the program.
(DAR-Samar PIO TERESITA D. TIJOL)
