A muscovado mill project in Barangay Robles, La Castellana,
Negros Occidental, set up two years ago by agrarian reform beneficiaries
(ARBs), may soon prove to be one of the strongest showcases for the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The 2.5-million project, managed by Task Force Mapalad (TFM)
and operated by La Castellana ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative, shows that CARP
improves the lives of ARBs by opening economic opportunities, building their
confidence to undertake enterprises, and giving them time for social activities
that strengthen personal characters and community relations.
The project currently employs 24 workers and produces 432
tons of muscovado sugar per year. Although revenues are modest (annual gross
income of P568,800 and net income of P276,000), the prospect for growth is
great.
The project is currently raising P10 million to upgrade its
facilities. The upgrade, which includes getting equipments of global standards,
is expected to increase annual production to 720 tons and gross revenue to
P948,000.
FARMERS HOLD STREET DANCE TO CELEBRATE SENATE PASSAGEOF CARP EXTENSION BILL,
URGE HOUSE TO ADOPT SENATE BILL
Scores of farmers from Negros Occidental gathered outside
the House of Representatives and held a street dance ala Masskara to welcome the passage last
Monday of Senate Bill No. 2666 extending the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for five years with a budget of P147
billion.
Masskara is a traditional Negrense dance festival in
celebration of good harvest and expression of gratitude for bountiful
blessings.
Donning masks and native costumes, and with bodies painted
with slogans, the farmers belonging to the peasant federation Task Force
Mapalad (TFM) also urged the House to adopt the Senate version of the CARP
extension bill so that there will be no need for a bicameral discussion of the
measure.
