DAR, DSWD renew tie-up to link ARB orgs to institutional buyers in Cagayan Valley

To help farmers increase their income in the countryside, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the Cagayan Valley region has renewed its partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP).

Representatives from the two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to reduce hunger and poverty in the area and ensure food security by linking community-based organizations like the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) to institutional buyers as sure markets for their products.

DAR Regional Director Primo C. Lara divulged that since the year 2020, DAR Cagayan Valley region has already linked 15 ARBOs to 14 institutional buyers, and the DAR continues to provide support services to the ARBOs to ensure sustainable production of food requirements to their respective institutional partners.

“We will not end up with just the MOA signing alone, but we will continue to deliver our mandates and create impact in the lives of our respective beneficiaries,” he said.

The DSWD as the lead agency in the implementation of EPAHP, is also acting based on the directive of the President under Memorandum Circular No. 47, directing all government agencies and instrumentalities, and encouraging all the local government units (LGUs) to support the continuous and effective implementation of the EPAHP in the country.

The activity was attended by representatives from different partner agencies including the Department of Interior and Local Government, Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Health, National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Department of Education and National Nutrition Council among others.