Agusan del Sur — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Sur has joined forces with other government agencies in a two-day “Government on Wheels” initiative, providing essential services and information to support the fight against insurgency in the area.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Loida L. Jones highlighted the primary goal of the initiative: to empower and mobilize community members in barangays to combat and eliminate the influence of communist terrorist groups and address the root causes of communist armed conflict in the region.
“The Government on Wheels initiative has proven to be an effective vehicle for delivering much-needed government services to far-flung barangays, fostering closer ties between the local government unit (LGU), national agencies, and the local population in the fight against insurgency,” Jones stated.
The DAR, represented by Senior Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Joarslee M. Ariñez, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the agency’s three key functions: Land Tenure Improvement, Agrarian Justice Delivery, and the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program. Ariñez also emphasized the ongoing Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project, which aims to empower agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) by providing them with individual land titles.
The initiative was held in Barangays Novele, Cabawan, Tagbayagan, and Libuac in Rosario, Agusan del Sur. The event was led by Rosario Mayor Jose T. Cuyos, Sr., in collaboration with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Barangay Captains, and their respective councils, ensuring a coordinated effort between the LGU and the community. Key partners included the DAR, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other agencies.
During the event, various government agencies provided essential services to address the immediate needs of local communities, particularly in health, agriculture, and peace and order. This included efforts to address concerns related to ongoing insurgency in the region.
Among the key services provided were agricultural assistance from Delia O. Valenzuela, the Municipal Agriculture Officer, civil registration services from Socarno O. Aquino, and health services from Dr. Rebecca R. Aquino. Additionally, social welfare support was provided by Jeanette G. Celedio, RSW, and fire safety and police services were delivered by SFO1 Novem P. Dalupere of the Municipal Fire Station and representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The “Government on Wheels” initiative represents a unified government response to empower communities and address the challenges posed by insurgency in Agusan del Sur.
