Castriciones officially turns over DAR to Bernie Cruz

Former Agrarian Reform secretary John Castriciones formally turned over the agency’s stewardship to Acting Secretary Bernie Cruz on Monday.

Cruz committed to carry on with the department’s platforms to help and support the farmers, saying the key to sustaining the progress in the countryside is “continuity.”

“We would continue the DAR’s projects and programs under the current administration. And I am taking this opportunity to ask my deputies and all the men and women of the department to help me in leading the agency,” he said.

On October 28, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Cruz, who was the former DAR undersecretary for foreign assisted and special projects office, as acting secretary after Castriciones resigned to seek a Senate seat in the May 2022 elections.

Castriciones asked DAR’s officials and personnel to give their support and cooperation to the new secretary.

“The DAR has a lot of projects and programs aimed at improving the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries. The Secretary cannot do it alone and he will be needing you to continue the endeavor that we started,” he said.

Cruz earlier said that he will work on the distribution of the remaining undistributed lands to the landless farmers, provide support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries, and bring social justice in agrarian communities.

He also sought Congress’ approval to allocate funds for the Mega Farm, which is DAR’s anti-poverty project to help improve farmers’ lives. Cruz believes that this project will help boost the agricultural productivity in the country.

“Let’s work together and do our contribution in making the country’s agricultural sector a success,” he added.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA News