Assessing the Implementation and Challenges of Department of Agrarian Reform Programs: A Study on Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries' Organizations in Surigao del Sur

Social Sciences

ARBOs play a crucial role in enhancing the livelihoods of agrarian reform beneficiaries through collective action, market engagement, and access to essential services. Using a descriptive quantitative research design, a researcher-made questionnaire was employed to assess the range of programs implemented by DAR and the challenges encountered during their execution. A total of 92 respondents from seven ARBOs across Tago, Cagwait, and Marihatag participated in the study. The findings reveal that DAR's programs, including land distribution, infrastructure development, support services, and access to credit, were largely perceived as "slightly implemented." While infrastructure projects such as roads and irrigation were rated positively, the support services—specifically training, legal aid, and capacity building—received the lowest ratings, indicating operational gaps. These gaps hinder the potential of the programs to achieve long-term impact, underscoring the need for complementary services to infrastructure. On the other hand, challenges identified include political interference, favoritism, and resource limitations, which hamper equitable distribution of resources and services. Insufficient follow-up and low beneficiary engagement further exacerbate these issues. The study highlights the importance of addressing these challenges through improved governance, capacity-building initiatives, and better inter-agency coordination. These recommendations offer crucial insights for policymakers to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of DAR’s agrarian reform initiatives and ensure sustainable development for rural communities.

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