AgSur farmer orgs gain nationwide recognition for generating P129-M of sales under PAHP in 2023
After a series of hard work, trials, and grit in 2023, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in Agusan del Sur were duly recognized for having the highest generated sales under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program of DAR in 2023 in the amount of P129,701,272.75.
Announced during the recently conducted 2-day national meeting with the DAR Central Office, Ms. Ma. Susan S. Gambalan, the National PAHP Coordinator, delivered the good news of the provincial and regional rankings by sales generated, among other major indicators.
The PAHP program which started in Caraga way back in 2018, aims to comprehensively address the key challenges attached with food security, hunger mitigation, and poverty reduction in the country. This is mostly achieved by taking advantage of the opportunities of partnering and doing business with institutional markets, i.e., hospitals and feeding programs of government agencies, through marketing agreements.
For FY 2023, DAR Agusan del Sur, headed by PARPO II Engr. Loida L. Jones, was able to provide assistance to the targeted ARBOs to sustain existing and to forge new marketing agreements which has collectively made up the milestone achievement of P129-M in generated sales.
The Agusan del Sur ARBOs included in this accomplishment are: Lumad sa Adgawan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative [LAMPUFACO (Php 84,411,270.70)]; Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Inc. – ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative [FPPI-ARBMPC (Php 40,463,680.80)]; La Fortuna Multi-Purpose Cooperative [LAMPCO (Php 2,426,203.50)]; Crossing Luna Biawan Esperanza Vegetable Cooperative [CROBEVCO (Php 974,707.75)]; Tagcoong-Angas Irrigators Association, Inc. (Php 737,520.00); & Rizal Multi-Purpose Cooperative [RMPC (Php 687,890.00)].
These ARBOs primarily deal with producing processed agri-products such as palm cooking oil, milled rice, and along with other fresh commodities such as vegetables, fruits, and eggs. Some ARBOs were also able to deliver the dry goods requirement of the feeding programs through their ARBO-managed stores.
As such, due in part by the strong interest and perseverance of the ARBOs to improve their financial standing and through the assistance from PAHP, their products and goods have been marketed directly to numerous institutional markets such as the Local Government Unit of La Paz, Agusan del Sur; Andres Soriano Memorial Hospital Cooperative, Davao Central Warehouse Club Inc. in Trento, Agusan del Sur; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7; & numerous individual buyers and traders.
Speaking in behalf of LAMPUFACO, Ms. Lorena Durango, the General Manager, happily exclaimed, “We are overjoyed that we are the highest in terms of sales and we hope that we will be able to sustain this momentum or even exceed it in the upcoming days and months.”
Ms. Durango continued, “We are extremely grateful to DAR and to all others which helped us reach our goals to increase our sales.”
DAR Regional Director Atty. Merlita S. Capinpuyan was also elated by the good news, as she expressed, “This is a true testament to the impact of DAR and what we are trying to do here with our farmer beneficiaries. Most especially to the ARBOs of Agusan del Sur, and to all other ARBOs in Caraga, please continue your drive to continually improve your business and organization. DAR will be here to guide you for as long as our mandate is still in effect.”
RD Capinpuyan further expressed, “We are anchored by the socio-economic agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and our Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III to always uplift the Filipino farmers’ economic standing, and by bringing PAHP, and other DAR programs closer to the people, we are one step closer in achieving that goal.”
Along with the recognition of Agusan del Sur, the Regional Office of Caraga was then also able to nab the prestige of garnering the 2nd highest regional sales generated through PAHP in 2023 worth Php 149,276,842.97. This includes the consolidated sales of all ARBOs engaged with PAHP all throughout the region.
