Partnership Between DUFFAMCO and Medical Mission Group Hospital of Tagum City Ratified Through DAR Linksfarm Program

Davao Free Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DUFFAMCO) and the Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative of Tagum (MMGHSCT) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, under the DAR Linksfarm project.

DUFFAMCO is a DAR assisted Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization, with farmlands located in the Municipality of Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte and is engaged in the production of organic brown, black, red and other varieties of rice which are being sold to the local market of Davao del Norte. 

 Through the Linking Small Farmers to Market (Linksfarm) Program of the Department of Agrarian Reform which was established in 2012, smallholder farmers were able to increase their agricultural productivity and effectively managed their agricultural production by applying value chain processes and linkaging with institutional market buyers. Agro-enterprise development approach is also adopted for the ARBOs to be able to identify supply demands and access to market chain.

DAR Davao del Norte, through its Linksfarm point person headed by PARPO 1 Leo Nuñeza, assisted the forging of a strategic partnership between DUFFAMCO and MMGH, wherein DUFFAMCO is committed to provide the hospital with 25 sacks of high variety of rice every week at Php50.00 less than the prevailing market price per sack. The one-year contract starts in March 2019 and  will be reviewed six (6) months thereafter.

 During the said MOA signing, MMGHSCT Board of Director Chairperson Dr. Renato Maranan thanked the DAR in spearheading the said project. “Our hospital commits 101% percent to this agreement because this symbiotic agreement will benefit us with quality volume of rice and timely delivery of services by DUFFAMCO".  “Perhaps someday, we could also sign another agreement that our hospital will provide  health care services towards the members of DUFFAMCO", he added.

Mr. Ernesto Nobleza, Chairperson of DUFFAMCO, also expressed his gratitude to the DAR for assisting them in the marketing of their farm products through the Linksfarm program. “Linksfarm is a huge help to us because it boosts the growth of our cooperative as a social enterprise”, he quipped.

“MMGHSCT did the right choice with DUFFAMCO since the said cooperative is one of the top ARBOs in Region 11 and included in the 100 top ARBOs in the Philippines in terms of Information Technology-Enabled Maturity Assessment (ITEMA). This momentous event is a testament that our agency does not only give lands to landless farmers but also extends support services to our Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries”, PARPO II Jocelyn C. Seno remarked as she addressed the people who attended the MOA signing. DCT