An Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) cooperative signed a PHP630,000 marketing agreement with a private catering business during the two-day One-Stop ARBO Caravan on Cooperative Registration, Convergence, and Product Display at the Dottie’s Place Hotel here.
The caravan, which ran from Jan. 20-21, was spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform in Caraga Region (DAR-13) and participated in by 34 ARBOs across the region.
On Tuesday, DAR-13 Director Merlita Capinpuyan and DAR Undersecretary Josef Angelo Martires led the opening of the activity, joined by the Department of Trade and Industry, Cooperative Development Authority, and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
One of the highlights of the event was the Wednesday signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Sta. Josefa Unified Calamansi Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Agusan del Sur and the Bekik Catering Services (BCS) from Trento town in the same province.
Under the MOA, the cooperative will supply the BCS with 1,000 to 3,000 bottles of ready-to-drink calamansi juice, which is expected to generate around PHP630,000 in potential profit for the cooperative this year.
“This is a big help for our cooperative, and we are thankful to the government, especially to DAR, for helping us link with business groups and markets,” Fernando Lladore, the chairperson of Sta. Josefa Cooperative, said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the potential income will also help the cooperative expand its business and services not only in Agusan del Sur but also in the neighboring provinces and towns in the region.
In a separate statement, Capinpuyan said the caravan aims to promote the ARBOs’ local products and ”identify potential markets, institutional buyers, and business partners.”
Also on Wednesday, the LBP turned over the LandBank-ARBO loan for calendar year 2025, amounting to PHP5 million, to 48 farmers who are members of the Butuan Agusan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
Six ARBOs from different towns in Agusan del Sur also received PHP425,000 worth of organic supplements from DAR to help boost their agricultural productivity and cooperative development.
ARBO leader Madelin Ocay, the auditor of Katipunan Agricultural Producers Cooperative from Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, said in an interview that sales of their local farm products reached PHP16,000 during the two-day activity.
Another ARBO leader, Jeffrey Aguillon, the manager of Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, said the caravan has given them the chance to connect with markets and direct buyers of their farm products. (PNA)