MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has forged a partnership venture with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) to provide credit to farmer-beneficiaries. DAR Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes said the project, entitled “DAR-CARD Microfinance Capacity Development Program,” is three-year project that seeks to extend loans to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). De los Reyes said CARD will also work with DAR in training cooperative members to ensure better performance in managing business ventures and to avoid, if not limit, delinquency or even default on their payments. “The program aims to develop small farmers cooperatives into successful microfinance service providers in their areas,” De los Reyes said. The DAR, through the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development, aims to bolster its credit program through partnership with various microfinance institutions (MFI) like CARD. BARBD Director Elena Cabañes said the program is expect