DAR gives nod to 'Gulay sa Buhay,' 

'Bahay Magsasaka' projects in Catigbian

CATIGBIAN, Bohol, April 19 (PIA) -- Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Sec. John Castriciones approves “technically” the request of the Catigbian Sangguniang Bayan for DAR to establish in the town a Gulay sa Buhay and Farmers’ Housing Project.

During the DAR secretary’s visit in the town to deliver Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) to farmer-beneficiaries of the government’s comprehensive agrarian reform program, the town officials presented to the secretary Resolution No. 2021-04-73 which stated the request.

The Municipality of Catigbian, with its vision of providing holistic development to its people, is continuously seeking resources from its coffers and other national and provincial linkages to realize its dream of ensuring delivery of basic services, the resolution states as read by Municipal Local Civil Registrar Doris Dinorog-Obena.

The municipality hopes to avail of the Gulay sa Buhay program of DAR which would encourage farmers to practice urban farming, thus alleviating poverty and eradicating hunger by producing fresh and healthy vegetables for family consumption and a possible source of additional income.

Gulay sa Buhay, according to Castriciones, started in Tondo during the pandemic.

To help the parish, DAR thought of giving vegetable supplies for free to a parish.

However, Castriciones added they do not want to project a mendicant culture, so they sought ways to make it sustainable and sensible.

“We saw a soccer field that was abandoned. They converted the empty, idle soccer field into a vegetable garden. We provided the seeds, technology and the inputs, and in one harvest, they earned about P40,000. That was when we saw it could work,” the secretary explained.

Since then, Gulay sa Buhay has been replicated in DAR areas in the provinces.

Meanwhile, in Catigbian, some farmers in areas hit by the 2013 earthquake have not fully recovered from the physical and economic impact of the disaster.

These people need assistance like housing and livelihood, the SB stated to convince the DAR secretary to give in to their request.

Farmers Housing Project or DAR’s Bahay Magsasaka, is a government low cost housing for farmers, according to the secretary.

As to the project, Castriciones disclosed that the agency has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development with Sec. Eduardo del Rosario so the program could be funded by the Home Development Mutual Fund of the government.

“In our attempt to change the landscape of the rural areas, we have asked Local Government Units to find us not less than 4,000 square meters where we can build packets of low cost houses for farmers,” he said.

The house measures 36 square meters, with two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, toilet and granite floor, and equipped with solar power for energy.

Castriciones said the house can be built on-site, or within the lot which they awarded to farmers, or to an off-site area where 20-40 houses can be clustered in a community.

"We intend to create an atmosphere where farmers are given decent homes they can call as their own," he said.

For the resolution, Castriciones assured the town that as long as they partner with DAR on the endeavour, the government will give its support.

"This is technically approved, but we would need the LGU to help us implement the project to make its succeed," he said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

BALAY SA MAG-UUMA. DAR Sec. John Castriciones has "technically" approved Catigbian’s request to establish a "Balay sa Mag-uuma" low-cost housing in the town for farmer-beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program as well as the "Gulay ng Buhay" project to help improve the conditions of the farmers. He stressed, however, that these would not work without the LGU's cooperation. (rahc/PIA7/Bohol)