Guin-olayan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (GARC), SIFI’s partner ARBO since 2018, receives ₱1.5 million grant from the Department of Labor and Employment.
The turnover ceremony was held at Hda. Guin-olayan, Brgy. Tortosa, Manapla to officially acknowledge the Group Agri-enterprise Retailing Commodity Project as a livelihood project and alternative source of income for the ARBO. The ₱1.5 million grant was given by the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
The grant was made possible by the active leadership of GARC Chairman Rodolfo Montejo together with his supportive officers and members.
GARC has been a partner-ARBO of the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. (SIFI) – Responsible Sourcing from Smallholders (RSS) Program since 2018 and received various intensive support, including linking to DOLE for accessing the DILP.
SIFI President & COO Edith Y. Villanueva and Special Programs Technical Consultant Judy Ann Gonzaga, together with SIFI project officers, joined the ceremony. “Because of your hard work and perseverance, you are truly blessed. Success and victory are all on you. Keep up the good work, support your leaders, and continue cooperating and collaborating,” Villanueva expressed in her speech to GARC.
Leaders and representatives from other Government Agencies (DOLE, DAR, DA, and the LGU of Manapla) were also present to show their support.
“We were very careful in selecting who will receive (this grant). Thankful for the partners who made this possible and forming this coop. We need to partner with other agencies to complement these programs…We ask you to sustain the project. Ang bayad – kay-uhon ninyo ang inyo grupo, kauswagan sang pamilya…” said Carmela Abellar, Provincial Head of DOLE Negros Occidental Field Office (NOFO). She added that the Department’s indicators are the ARBO’s ability to distribute individual dividends to the coop members.
GARC was previously a beneficiary of SIFI’s rice retailing project. This project is still operating today, and with the DILP grant, the rice retailing project is now upgraded to a grocery store.
SIFI continues to develop and nurture agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations through a variety of technical and skills trainings for sustainable livelihood programs.
**with reports from Theresa Katrina Etabag & John Rey Libertad
