By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is working to link agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with buyers to provide them with an established market for their farm products.
DAR Undersecretary Emily Padilla (DAR)
Through the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PHAP) program, DAR Undersecretary Emily Padilla said last Thursday (Dec. 5) their goal is to connect 5,228 ARBs or agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) with an institutional buyer.
“We are currently talking with institutionalized markets like Lazada, and Gerry’s Grill which has 117 branches, so that our ARBs will have regular markets to supply their farm products,” Padilla said.
PHAP aims to sustainably reduce poverty and hunger nationwide. It is a convergence of services by DAR, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, and other participating government agencies.
Padilla said they are also planning to ask for assistance from agencies like the Department of Health, Department of Education, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, among others, to determine where else ARBs can supply their agricultural products
She said the current PHAP program will be improved into an enhanced PHAP strategy to help more farmer-beneficiaries.
DAR Undersecretary Virgina Orogo said the program not only helps boost the lives of farmers but also ensures food security in the country.
“We can achieve this by providing our farmers with support services packages as soon as they receive the lands awarded to them,” she said.
DAR-PHAP has covered 27 provinces for 2019, including Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Quirino, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur I, Camarines Sur II, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
DAR held its PHAP planning and program assessment last Dec. 3 to 5 to improve its services to farmers, particularly with regard to reducing poverty in the countryside.
After the assessment, Susan Gambalan of the Support Services Office said they are expected to resolve issues and concerns on program implementation and indicative program directives for 2020.