TANAY, Rizal (PIA)-- The Department of Agrarian Reform - Rizal allies with line government agencies and stakeholders to fight against hunger in line with the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) "kumustahan" in Tanay, Rizal this September 28.
 
The activity aims to realign government efforts and stakeholders’ feedback regarding the government’s fight against hunger.
 
National government agencies are set to update counterparts on their respective efforts to achieve zero hunger. EPAHP started on July 2016 by virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement signed by DAR, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
 
DAR-Rizal Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Saturnino "Nonong" Bello welcomed participants online and onsite.
 
Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Dalangin Parel then briefed participants on the program’s developments.
 
CARPO Parel says that EPAHP has already been implemented for 3 years in CALABARZON with the aim of giving Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) the opportunity to sell their products to identified agencies while fighting hunger.
 
In CALABARZON, partner agencies for the EPAHP include the Department of Education, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and, the National Nutrition Council.
 
DAR-Rizal was awarded with one of the highest national accumulative sales through the Llano Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative which supplies the DepEd with dairy products through a partnership with the Philippine Carabao Center.
 
CARPO Parel believes that Rizal ARBOs have an advantage in terms of proximity to Metro Manila, which has high food requirements.
 
DAR 4A Regional Director Cupido Gerry Asunscion stated in his message that it is the responsibility of the government to fight through a stronger EPAHP implementation among other programs.
 
NNC National Nutrition Council 4A Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Carina Santiago congratulates DAR CALABARZON for the conduct of the activity.
 
“We are honored to be partners with DAR4A especially with our tutok kainan - response of national govt to prevent hunger and malnutrition in the region,” RNPC Santiago says.
 
NNC 4A’s initiative against hunger includes catering to more than 1000 pregnant women in Rizal such as Montalban and San Mateo.
 
Line government agencies led by DAR also visited the Llano Farmers’ MPC processing site at Brgy. Bayugo, Jalajala, Rizal on September 29 to hold a dialogue with members in line with the EPAHP. (GG/PIA-Rizal)