THE Palawan hospital is now assured of quality food, as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Ospital ng Palawan and the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute conducted a virtual signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program on March 22, 2021, to boost the income of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the area, particularly the CK Plus Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Office Atty. Emily O. Padilla said the agricultural products to be delivered will be sourced out from the produce of the ARBs to meet the regular food requirements of the hospital in Palawan.
“Through this strategic partnership, the ARBs shall get better returns of their investments while consumers will have access to quality food products,” she said.
During the event, Padilla also recognized the invaluable support of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Puerto Princesa City to the EPAHP for their commitment to buy agri-products from the ARB organizations (ARBOs), specifically from Sitio Communal Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Narra Irrigators and Advocates Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
Padilla also noted that for year 2020, BJMP-Palawan registered the highest purchases among all the BJMP jails nationwide to comply with the food requirements of persons deprived of liberty in their area.
She also recognized the invaluable support of the Medical Mission Group (MMG)-Puerto Princesa City Cooperative Hospital for buying rice and providing credit assistance amounting to Php1 million to Palawan ARC Cooperative Federation. MMG-Puerto Princesa also registered with the highest purchases among all the MMG Cooperative hospitals nationwide for calendar years 2019 and 2020.
The DAR-Palawan, Seminario de San Jose, Department of Agriculture, Barangay LGU and the CK Plus Multi-Purpose Cooperative also conducted a virtual signing of MOU for Buhay sa Gulay program to promote the importance of urban farming and empower urban dwellers to have an alternative source of income through production and selling of fresh vegetables.
DAR-MIMAROPA Regional Director Atty. Marvin Bernal said the DAR will assist and empower the ARBs and ARBOs to increase their production and engagement in agri-based and agri-related enterprises for them to contribute to the well-being and improvement of quality of lives of those living in the agrarian reform communities (ARCs).
“We are very grateful to our partners because they are our instrument to carry out this project in providing healthy food during the pandemic,” Bernal said.
He said that the agency will monitor, enrich, and continue to promote this project in various parts of the region even after the pandemic.
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, Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agrarian Reform (DAR), 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), and LANDBANK.