Cebu City - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the National Nutrition Council in Central Visayas has conducted a blended session of a face-to-face and virtual signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program which will benefit three (3) agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBOs) and help mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security, and reduce poverty in urban and rural communities in the area.

DAR Central Visayas Regional Director Atty. Resty Osias said the main objective of the undertaking is to support the NNC’s Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 Days Program (F1K Program) which involves the delivery of key health, nutrition, social service, early education, and related services in the continuum of care from pregnancy to the first two years of life.

“Under the agreement, members from the 3 ARBOs in Central Visayas will deliver the nutritional requirements of the NNC harvested from their agricultural produce which includes vegetables, rice, eggs, fruits, and others,” Osias said.

Osias noted that the priority programs under the EPAHP includes the provision of agricultural products for the institutional feeding programs; credit support to community-based organizations; and capacity-building and productivity improvement for community-based organizations.

The EPAPH also aims to push for nutrition education; establishment of agricultural facilities and technologies, food hubs, and other infrastructure facilities; mobilization of funding, technical and research assistance from development local partners; and advocacy and education.

The face-to-face signing ceremony of the MOU was executed by Assistant Regional Director Atty. Louie L. Naranjo, representing RD Osias, and Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission. While a virtual signing ceremony of Marketing Agreements (MA) with ARBOs was also undertaken between Dr. Parolita A. Mission and leaders of the 3 ARBOs which include Fermin Tajulas, Chairman of Bonbon Farmers MPC, in Negros Oriental; Chairman Serenio Enad, Carcar Communities and Farmers MPC, in Cebu; and Chairman Romeo L. Solicar, KASAMA MPC, in Siquijor.

The activity was also attended by Negros Oriental-South Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Sherwin B. Tubog, Cebu PARPO II Varinia B. Fabillar, Siquijor PARPO II Grace B. Fua together with other DAR provincial key officials.

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, Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Science and Technology (DOST), 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.

Cebu City – Nagsagawa kamakailan ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at ang National Nutrition Council sa Gitnang Kabisayaan ng pinaghalong makakaharap at birtuwal na paglagda ng isang memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sa ilalim ng programang Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), kung saan makikinabang ang tatlong (3) agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) at tutulong upang mapagaan ang kagutuman, tiyakin ang seguridad ng pagkain at nutrisyon at bawasan ang kahirapan sa mga lungsod at kanayunan sa naturang lugar.

Sinabi ni DAR-Central Visayas Regional Director Atty.Resty Osias na ang pangunahing layunin ng gawaing ito ay upang suportahan ang programa ng NNC na Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 Days Program (F1K Program) na kinasasangkutan ng paghahatid ng mga pangunahing serbisyo sa kalusugan, nutrisyon, serbisyong panlipunan, maagang edukasyon at iba pang mga serbisyo sa pagpapatuloy ng pangangalaga mula sa pagbubuntis hanggang sa unang dalawang taon ng buhay.

"Sa ilalim ng kasunduan, ang 3 mga ARBO Gitnanng Kabisayaan ay maghahatid ng mga kinakailangan sa nutrisyon ng NNC na magmumula sa kanilang mga inaning produktong agrikultural katulad ng gulay, bigas, itlog, prutas at iba pa," ani Osias.

Nabanggit ni Osias na kabilang sa mga pangunahing programa ng EPAHP ay ang pagkakaloob ng mga produktong agricultural sa mga institutional feeding programs; pagkakaloob ng mga pautang sa mga samahan sa komunidad; at pagpapabuti ng kapasidad, kakayahan at pagiging produktibo ng mga samahang sa komunidad.

Nilalayon din ng EPAPH na itulak ang edukasyon sa nutrisyon; pagtatatag ng mga pasilidad at teknolohiyang pang-agrikultura, food hubs, at iba pang mga pasilidad sa imprastraktura; pagpapakilos ng pondo, pagkakaloob ng tulong teknikal at pananaliksik mula sa mga local development partners; at adbokasiya at edukasyon.

Ang harapan seremonya ng pagladga ng MOU ay isinagawa ni Assistant Regional Director Atty. Louie L. Naranjo, bilang kinatawan ni RD Osias, at ni Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission. Samantalang ang birtuwal na seremonya ng paglagda ng Marketing Agreement (MA) sa pagitan ng 3 ARBOs ay isinagawa rin nina Dr. Parolita A. Mission, Bonbon Farmers MPC Chairman Fermin Tajulas, mula sa Negros Oriental, Chairman Serenio Enad, ng Carcar Communities and Farmers MPC, sa Cebu at Chairman Romeo L. Solicar, KASAMA MPC, sa Siquijor.

Ang aktibidad ay dinaluhan din nina Negros Oriental-South Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Sherwin B. Tubog, Cebu PARPO II Varinia B. Fabillar, at Siquijor PARPO II Grace B. Fua kasama ang iba pang mga pangunahing opisyal ng DAR provincial office.

Ang EPAHP ay inilunsad ng pambansang pamahalaan bilang tugon sa kagutuman at kahirapan upang direktang makinabang ang mahihirap na sektor ng lipunan sa pamamagitan ng kooperasyon at pagtatagpo ng mga mahahalagang serbisyo sa ilalim ng Office of the President-Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Science and Technology (DOST), Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Population Commission (POPCOM), at LANDBANK.