PAGADIAN CITY, February 9 (PIA) - - Arsenio & Elsa Restauro , both Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in Santa Cruz Expanded Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) and active members of the Sta. Cruz Rural Water System & Sanitation Association (SACRUWASA) and the Sta. Cruz, Boniao, Kaangayan, Puguan (SBKP) Expanded Irrigators Association Inc. – all Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) - assisted organizations in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur have so much to be thankful for.
With industry, ability, and empowerment through the trainings imbued to them by DAR, the gains of the lands awarded them through DAR’s Land Tenure Improvement (LTI) Program and Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) indeed ushered them to a better and comfortable quality of life.
In 1987, Arsenio Restauro acquired a Home lot of 776 sq. meters where their big, concrete and fully-furnished house now stands. With 2.2 hectares of rice fields upon which they started to farm, Arsenio and Elsa were able to fully pay their obligation in 1997, after a ten (10) year term-installment bases every after harvest through Direct Sale.
“These landholdings are with Emancipation Patents and Titles registered under Presidential Decree No. 27 - Operation Land Transfer Scheme of the then Ministry of Agrarian Reform, now DAR”, informed OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Engr. Raymundo B. Bernardo.
PARO Bernardo said Arsenio also became a recipient of DAR’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or RA 6657- Collective Land Ownership Award covering 2 hectares which he acquired in cash at P240-T in 2002 with a Deed of Absolute Sale.
From the monetary gains of their DAR-awarded lands, they were able to acquire additional 4 hectares of rice fields which they have already fully paid. To ease their farming techniques, the family who used to adopt conventional methods acquired modern farm implements and other up-to- date pre & post harvest facilities on 8.1 hectares of rice fields. Aside from this, they also cultivate and manage another 3.7 hectares mortgaged to them and use environment friendly – technologies like organic farming.
As a result of their industry & with DAR interventions, the Restauros now earn a sizable income. They have also sent three (3) of their children to college who were able to finish their degrees. From humble beginnings, Arsenio and Elsa Restauro are now truly living progressive lives and gainfully making their lands productive, moving them up in the hierarchy of successful rural life. (MVBomes/LQValdez/PIA9/ALT)