LEGAZPI CITY -- Seven agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in Bicol have earned more than P5 million in the first four months of 2022 through vegetable sales and continued food deliveries to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
Department of Agrarian Reform-Bicol Regional Director Rodrigo O. Realubit said that from January 2022 to April 2022, NNC bought a total of P5.2 million worth of fresh produce from the ARBOs in Bicol.
Realubit said that the relationship between the ARBOs and institutional buyers gives farmers a chance to make more income because they no longer need middlemen to sell their fresh produce.
"We are very happy. The volume of produce the farmers provide and the sales that they earn from it speak of opportunities and, at the same time, challenges too. Our farmers are assured that the BJMP, NNC, and the public will purchase their produce,” Realubit said.
The agricultural products purchased by institutional buyers include milled rice, vegetables, eggs, and fruits.
“This initiative under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) provides the correct direction for our ARB support services initiatives," he added.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Marilyn Valeza said the NNC is committed to sustaining its partnership with DAR-supported organizations. She emphasized the need to eradicate malnutrition and stunting throughout the country.
“We hope that the government will continue to help poor people, especially the children, through the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TKDSP),” Valeza said.
She said that an agreement had already been made with the ARBOs in Masbate and Camarines Sur for the implementation of TKDSP phase 4 for children ages 6 to 23 months and preparations are now being made for phase 5 of TKDSP in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate.
“Sixteen 4th and 5th class municipalities are part of the initiative. Six of them are in Catanduanes, four are in Camarines Sur, three are in Masbate, and three are in Sorsogon,” Valeza said.
NNC has partnered with six farmers' organizations in Albay, namely: Association of Women and Men in Gabawan, Vinisacan Irrigators Association Inc., Panganiran Irrigators Association, Quipia Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, Sta. Florentina Farmers Irrigators Association Inc.; and South Quinale Irrigators Association Inc. They also forged an agreement with Ugnayang Lakas ng Dariao Agrarian Reform Cooperative (UNLADCO) in Catanduanes province.
National director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) JSSupt. Flory Sanchez thanked the partnership and urged other ARBOs to negotiate with Bicol jails for the purchase of their agricultural products.
She said that it is apparent that BJMP's purchases from the ARBOs have increased significantly from 2020 to 2022, reaching P941,487.55. (DAR)
