insufficient as well. CARP implementing agencies have various programs that the ARBs can access, but the problem is the lack of mechanisms at the national and local levels to strategically plan and coordinate the delivery of support services. These agencies have different requirements, priorities and application processes. DA is likewise mandated to provide support services to farmers, yet the department does not prioritize ARBs. Much of its functions are devolved to the LGUs, where the process of selecting beneficiaries and providing support services can be highly-politicized and dispensed as “political favors.” Small percentage of organized ARBs. According to the DAR data (1993 to June 2016), there are 5,586 ARB organizations (ARBOs), of which 4,767 ARBOs are in the ARC areas and 819 are in non-ARC areas. ARBOs within ARCs have a total of 793,282 members, but only 37 percent or 296,301 members are actual agrarian reform beneficiaries.12 Given that there are over 2.8 million ARBs as of 2018, the data show that only a small fraction of ARBs are organized, despite the efforts of DAR and CSOs. Establishing farmers’ organizations is very important in pursuing their land rights claims and in accessing support services, as individual ARBs have very limited options. Unfair and unjust AVAs. Due to the lack of public investment in agriculture, many ARBs were forced to enter into AVAs with the private sector. Many agreements have unfair commodity pricing, inequitable lease rentals, and unconscionable periods which in many cases exceed the life span of the farmers. Arrangements were also entered into by ARBs through coercion, misinformation, deceit, fraud, and threats from other parties involved. These unfair agreements are largely due to the ARBs’ lack of capacity to fully understand, analyze and negotiate the terms and conditions of AVAs on equal footing with investors. Lack of climate resilient support services programs. As an agricultural country, two-thirds of the Philippine population are directly and indirectly exposed to the impacts of climate change events. Small farmers and ARBs are highly vulnerable to severe weather events (typhoons and droughts), as well as to changes in weather patterns, temperature, water supply that threaten farmers’ productivity, livelihoods and security of homes. The damage to the farmers’ crops runs to the billions of pesos annually but most ARBs have no access to crop insurance and other programs to mitigate the effects of climate change. DAR Presentation for Organizational Briefing on Senate Committee on Agrarian Reform, 24 August 2016. Data based on ITeMA Monitoring results. 12 Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) 55