The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) have come together to help boost the livelihood of small farmers in the Province of Cavite.
Officials of DAR and PNPA have sealed the partnership with the signing of a memorandum of partnership on Tuesday, June 20, at PNPA Heroes Hall in Silang, Cavite.
Implemented through DAR’s Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program, the partnership aims to link agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) and their organizations to institutional buyers and markets.
In a statement, Atty. Milagros Isabel Cristobal, Undersecretary for Support Services Office, said the DAR empowers the ARB by providing them with various support such as technology training and capability building for them to produce quality goods. However, one of the challenges they face is where to sell their products at a competitive price.
“Through the PAHP program, we provide our farmers with established markets for their farm produce. This way, we help them uplift their economic lives and help the government in ensuring food sufficiency,” Cristobal said.
Under the partnership agreement, Caviteño ARBs would supply agricultural commodities to the PNPA which include rice, corn, poultry, various vegetables, and groceries, to name a few.
PNPA Director Maj. Gen. Eric Noble, said that through this partnership, the two agencies could somehow help in addressing hunger and poverty in the area, which are included as root causes of rebellion.
“This partnership is a great strategy in combatting poverty among our farmers. Providing them with an established market ensures them a steady income that can be a source of their daily expenses,” he said.
Noble added that they would help improve this initiative until it becomes a DAR-PNPA endeavor on a nationwide scale.