The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through Secretary Benhur Abalos, has supported the Kapatid Angat Lahat for Agriculture Program (KALAP), a private sector-led initiative which aims to help the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural sector.
The KALAP seeks to integrate the MSMEs into the value chain of large corporations.
“We commit our department to this,” said Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos during a meeting between the DILG and the private sector last Monday, Jan. 9.
Go Negosyo, whose advocacy campaign includes helping the MSMEs to scale up, organized the meeting with executives from the agriculture sector, including Bounty Fresh, Harbest Agribusiness, Kennemer Foods, Lionheart Farms, LT Group, Nestlé Phils., Universal Leaf Phils., Yovel East Research, and the Cooperative Development Authority in attendance.
A statement from Go Negosyo said Abalos assigned DILG Assistant Secretary Odilon Pasaraba to KALAP and quoted him that an undersecretary position might eventually be created specifically for the task.
He added that National Irrigation Administration (NIA) head Eddie Guillen will also play a “pivotal role” in the agricultural program.
During the meeting, KALAP Senior Adviser and former Agriculture secretary William Dar proposed the designation of a senior government official for the coordination of the food security program of LGUs.
Concepcion, the founder of Go Negosyo, explained that helping MSMEs, a bulk of whom can be found in the agriculture sector, will help generate more jobs for Filipinos, especially those residing in the countryside.
READ: Concepcion says drive for Pinoy entrepreneurship fruitful
“I think it’s about time we really pursue and create inclusivity in the Philippines, and one of the biggest ways we can do it is in the most difficult area, agriculture,” he said.
“Kapatid Angat Lahat tries to help the MSMEs by encouraging the bigger enterprises to come to the aid of the smaller ones. We already have proof that it works in areas like franchising, and that it is sustainable,” Concepcion added.
The group further asked that food security be made part of the Seal of Good Local Governance assessment system of the DILG.
It also stressed that the department should help mobilize and strengthen the extension units of all LGUs, who will then partner with farmers cooperatives in enhancing productivity.
In return, Abalos responded that he would check how food security can be incorporated into the Seal of Good Local Governance so as to incentivize LGUs.
He also asked the group for guidance on timetables and specific areas to address the request on extension services and coordinating with farmers cooperatives.
The Kapatid Angat Lahat program spurring “well-designed business model for agricultural programs” is also seen “as key in sourcing funding from banks and other financial and aid institutions.”
“When we first introduced Kapatid Angat Lahat in 2016, we saw that for MSMEs to grow and evolve from micro to small, small to medium, and medium to large, they need the three M’s of money, market and mentoring. These can come with the help of big-brother companies,” Concepcion explained.