KORONADAL CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) linked up two agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to feed pregnant women and children in the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and General Santos City.

DAR Undersecretary for support services Emily Padilla said the NNC’s program, “Tutok Kainan: Dietary Supplementation Program (DSP),” is being implemented under the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) scheme, wherein government institutions work together to support poor people through feeding programs.

“The government is rolling out this food assistance because Filipinos are experiencing involuntary hunger especially in these tough times of the pandemic,” Padilla said.

“This program ensures that incomes of farmers will be stable, and the nutritionally at-risk pregnant women will have nutritious food to eat. Malnutrition among children will be addressed too,” Padilla added.

To supply rice, fruits, and vegetables to 834 pregnant women, babies, and children, the DAR linked up the ARBOs of South Cotabato, namely, the Pobusilla Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PARBMPC) in Tampacan, and Banga Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (BARCCO) in Banga.