In a significant move to support agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) 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 intensified their partnership. The collaboration, formalized during a meeting at the DAR Central Office on February 3, 2025, is set to benefit over 65,000 ARBs in the region.
The partnership aims to deliver a wide array of support services to ARBs, including the development of essential infrastructure like farm-to-market roads and bridges, the provision of common service facilities such as farm implements, machinery, and equipment, and the implementation of agri-enterprise development programs. These programs focus on community formation and strengthening ARB organizations, alongside offering Islamic microfinancing schemes, legal assistance, and land tenure support.
According to DAR, BARMM hosts 67,777 ARBs, 280 ARB organizations, and 112 agrarian reform communities, all poised to benefit from these initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods.
Undersecretary Amihilda Sangcopan of the DAR Office of Mindanao Affairs highlighted that the strategic initiatives discussed on January 30 with MAFAR officials are crucial for uplifting the agricultural sector in Bangsamoro. Taugan Kikay, Bangsamoro Director General for Agrarian Reform and head of the MAFAR delegation, expressed appreciation for DAR’s ongoing support, emphasizing that the partnership would play a pivotal role in the success of agrarian reform and economic growth in the region.
The collaboration was officially cemented in November 2023 when DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This MOU facilitates resource sharing and coordinated efforts to effectively implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in BARMM.