DAR CALABARZON implements first cross-province marketing partnership between Quezon 1 ARBO and Batangas BJMP

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in CALABARZON Region conducted on July 31, 2020, a virtual signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), marking the day as a very momentous event for the Manggalang Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (MARBENCO), of Sariaya, Quezon, it being the first DAR-assisted agrarian reform beneficiaries organization (ARBO) in CALABARZON which has successfully implemented a cross-province marketing partnership with San Juan Municipal Jail located in San Juan, Batangas

DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said that under the agreement, agricultural products to be delivered will be sourced out from the produce of the agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB)-members of MARBENCO to meet the regular food requirements of prisons in San Juan Municipal Jail in Batangas.

He said the partnership is being implemented under the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program (EPAHPP) where government institutions converged to support the poor people in the countryside.

Castriciones expressed his gratitude to representatives of DSWD, DOH, and BJMP for their support and commitment to the program with the aim to fight hunger and poverty in the country, especially in this time of the pandemic.

“Kami po sa DAR, kasama po namin ang Department of Agriculture ay nakahanda pong tugunan ang hamon na kailangan nating magtanim para sa mamamayang Filipino para magkaroon tayo ng food sufficiency para sa ating mamamayan,” Castriciones said.

“Binabati ko ang MARBENCO dahil sila po ay handang tumulong para sa pagsusuplay ng kanilang mga produkto sa BJMP, in return, makakatulong ito sa mga magsasaka, para mapa-unlad ang kanilang pamumuhay. Sa pamamagitan ng ugnayang ito ay siguradong matutugunan ng ating mga magsasaka ang hamon laban sa kahirapan at gutom,” he further said.

Undersecretary for Support Services Office Emily O. Padilla said that it takes two to tango for our ARBOs to have a stable market. Producers cannot sustain their production unless there is a steady market to buy their produce. It is, therefore, the government’s commitment and responsibility to intervene between the private sector and the ARBs to ensure that ARBs will have sure and ready market.

“Ang amin pong ginagawa sa SSO ay para mabigyan ng merkado ang ating mga magsasaka, upang tuloy tuloy ang kanilang pag-unlad. We will now focus on tangible results, yun pong nakikita at nararamdaman ng ating mga mgasasaka.” Padilla said

DAR-CALABARZON Regional Director Rene E. Colocar said the DAR will assist and empower the ARBs and ARBOs to increase their production and engagement in agri-based and agri-related enterprises for them to contribute to the well-being and improvement of quality of lives of those living in the agrarian reform communities (ARCs).

“Ang DAR CALABARZON ay nangangako na pag ibayuhin ang pagbibigay ng suporta at tulong sa lahat ng mga ARBOs sa Rehiyon.” he said.

The signing of Memorandum of Understanding was led by Secretary Castriciones with Cabinet Secretary and EPAHPP Committee Chairman Karlo Alexei Nograles, DSWD Field Office IV-A OIC- Director Lucia C. Almeda, DOH Region IV-A Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo, and BJMP-CALABARZON Regional Director J/SSUPT Amelia Abarraio Rayandayan.

The EPAHP is intended to contribute to the national government’s efforts in addressing hunger and poverty to directly benefit the poorer sector of the society through the synergy and convergence of the essential services under the Office of the President-Office of the Cabinet Secretary, DSWD, DAR, DA, DOH, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Population Commission (POPCOM), and LANDBANK.