DENR, DAR, DAR Convergence launched by racquel m. caldez

DENR Usec for Policy and Planning Demtrio l. Ignacio distributes land title to individuals during the Local Convergence launching witnessed by PENRO Isabela William C. Savella (left) Regional Executive Technical Director for Forestry Wilfredo Malvar and District II Representative Ana Cristina S. Go.



CAUAYAN, Isabela – The Convergence project of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was launched here, February 23 aimed at delivering the right program to support the food self-sufficiency program of the country.

The Local Convergence Agro-Enterprise Clusters in Isabela is a joint project of the agriculture, agrarian reform and natural resources in support to one of the programs of the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to ensure countryside development as one strategy for poverty reduction.

DENR Undersecretary (Usec) for Policy and Planning Demetrio L. Ignacio who represented Secretary Ramon Paje of the DENR said in his message during the launching that the three main institutional players in rural development have a shared resolution to adopt the convergence strategy for a more focused and unified interventions. He vouched support through forest and climate protection project to the cluster as he gave emphasis on the National Greening Program of the Department.
Under the Handog Titulo Progran, land titles were awarded to 11 individuals in the three municipalities of San Mariano, Naguilian and Benito Soliven. Likewise. seedlings/planting materials for the Coffee Industry Development Project in Isabela were turned over to the municipalities of Echague, San Guillermo, San Mariano, Cordon and Angadanan by DENR USec Ignacio and DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.
During the launching, Department of Agriarian Reform Secrtetary Virgilio delos Reyes distributed Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to 138 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) covering 429 hectares.
Governor Faustino G. Dy III expressed gratitude to the three department secretaries for choosing Isabela as one of the recipients of the convergence initiative that will surely benefit Isabelinos.
These contributions of the three rural development agencies are being formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding among DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, DAR Secretary delos Reyes and DENR Secretary Paje with Isabela Governor Dy III.
The convergence initiative is a multi-sectoral and integrated planning approach wherein the three rural development agencies will undertake joint planning, programming and budgeting.
The Coffee cluster in Isabela covers 23 barangays in five municipalities of Angadanan, Cordon, Echague, San Guillermo and San Mariano. This cluster will be concentrated on 2,100 farm households to develop 700 hectares.