DAR’s anti-poverty program eases access of farmers to marketing projects

 

Nabunturan, Davao de Oro -- In joining the government’s fight against hunger and poverty, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Davao de Oro recently signed a partnership agreement with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for the sourcing of agricultural products from the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province.

Through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program, ARB Organizations (ARBOs) such as the Nabunturan Agrarian Reform Community Integrated Cooperative (NARCICO) of Nabunturan and Concepcion Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CMPC) of Montevista, are now assured of a steady market and income that will also help increase their farm productivity.

Under the agreement, the DAR has linked the two agrarian cooperatives to an institutional buyer, this time with BJMP. This partnership works in two ways: it provides BJMP a steady supply of commodities such as eggs and vegetables, while the farmers gain a regular market for their farm produce.

During the virtual signing ceremony, Undersecretary Emily O. Padilla expressed her delight over the partnerships forged between the DAR, BJMP and the ARBOs NARCICO and CMPC. Such enthusiasm was also shared by NARCICO Chairperson Diark Diano as he recalled the way DAR has always been supportive of their cooperative. “Tungod aning EPAHP, kampante ko nga nay merkado among produkto” (I am now confident that our product will have a market because of EPAHP), Diano said.

EPAHP is the banner program of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger which is our government’s initiative to eradicate hunger by 2030.

Cabinet Secretary and EPAHP Committee Chairman Karlo B. Nograles in his virtual message, lauded the DAR and BJMP for being the two most active agencies in implementing EPAHP. He said that the MOU signing between these 2 agencies and the marketing agreement between the 2 ARBOs and BJMP are all proof that EPAHP program is indeed working.In his statement of commitment, PARPO II Melchor B. Jamora said that it has always been the DAR’s mission and commitment to turn agrarian reform cooperatives into enterprising ARBOs – shifting their mindsets

from organizing to entrepreneurship. “The DAR will always be behind our government in its endeavor towards fighting hunger and alleviating poverty”, Jamora said.

Also present during the signing ceremony were Col. Flory Sanchez, Deputy Director Directorate of BJMP National Headquarters (virtual), Assistant Provincial Administrator Placido Alcomendras, Jr., BJMP Montevista JSINPP Rienzon Sienes Roullo, PARPO I Ellordo C. Gualberto, CARPO-PBD Nancy S. Ramos, MARPO Rommel J. Protasio, and CMPC Chariperson Carlito Diayon.