KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- 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 Tampakan, and Banga Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (BARCCO) in Banga.

According to DAR Assistant Regional Director H. Roldan Ali, the department’s partnership with EPAHP has strengthened ARBOs’ income.

“Since the start of the EPAHP two years ago, we have recorded a total gross sale of P233 million as of June 10, 2021. This proves that the program succeeds in feeding the hungry and giving opportunities for farmers to earn more,” Ali said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles who heads Task Force Zero Hunger and EPAHP thanked the farmers for continually working with the government in overcoming hunger and poverty nationwide.

"We need more of this kind of collaboration among agencies and stakeholders, especially since the NNC's Tutok Kainan is among the banner programs of Task Force Zero Hunger. Our aim is to provide for nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women for 90 days, and for six to 23-month-old children for 18 days to address their dietary needs,” Nograles said.

The contract between NNC and the two ARBOs were signed on August 11, 2021.

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.

Active partners to this undertaking include the DAR, NNC, Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 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), Philippine Carabao Center, the local government units, LANDBANK and other public and private institutions.