The Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. (SIFI) invited 4 government agencies as resource speakers for agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in an information caravan. The agencies were gathered in one venue to provide basic services to ARBO attendees including membership registration and data updating to government mandated social protection programs.
The 4 government agencies that presented their respective programs and services were the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Social Security System (SSS). The 2-day caravan allowed access to social protection services among ARBO members, farmers, and their families.
The morning session aimed to increase ARBOs’ awareness and access to government programs and services through information dissemination, registration, referrals, and linkages with agencies. A total of 71 representatives from 37 ARBOs were reached in this event.
An information desk was set up in the afternoon session, allowing the ARBOs to consult with their chosen agencies. Concerns on registration, requirements, eligibility, and access procedures were addressed by the agency representatives. The SRA through their Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), and the PCIC covered majority of the member attendees.
On the other hand, PhilHealth and SSS services were identified by ARBOs as low-priority services due to member contributions considered as additional expenses. The ARBOs also expressed that contributions and data updating related to PhilHealth and SSS were usually neglected because of members’ geographical location, lack of benefit appreciation, and non-efficient delivery of services.
Moving forward, other government agencies and entities like the Land Bank of the Philippines, may be invited to the next information caravan to address ARBOs’ inquiries regarding existing and potential loans, considering the current situation of the sugar industry.
*With reports from Virgielyn Aguilar, SIFI RSS Community Development Specialist
