In a significant move to enhance agricultural development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) have announced a deepened partnership. This collaboration was highlighted during their inaugural Joint Coordinating Committee meeting held on January 17, 2025, in Manila.
The meeting served as a crucial platform for aligning the strategies and plans of both agencies, emphasizing their commitment to advancing agrarian reform. Undersecretary Amihilda Sangcopan of DAR’s Office for Mindanao Affairs stated that the initiative is not only aimed at benefiting agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) but also at fostering progress, peace, and equity across the entire Bangsamoro community.
Mohammad Yacob, the MAFAR-BARMM Minister, stressed the importance of aligning national and regional priorities to ensure that the programs implemented have a substantial impact on the lives of Bangsamoro farmers. A key focus of the meeting was the distribution of the remaining 113,917.89 hectares of agricultural land under the Land Acquisition and Distribution initiative, which is expected to benefit around 67,777 ARBs.
The land distribution will cover several areas including Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City, and the Special Geographic Area. Furthermore, the discussions also covered essential support services for farmers and measures to ensure agrarian justice, aiming for sustainable agricultural development and equitable growth within the Bangsamoro region.