The Department of Agrarian Reform has partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Palawan’s three municipalities to directly source produce requirements from farmer-beneficiaries.
Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla cited the bureau’s requirement for a steady supply of food items, such as rice, vegetables, root crops and other farm produce, for persons deprived of liberty under its custody.
Under DAR’s enhanced partnership against hunger and poverty program, the program seeks to address the government’s fight against hunger and poverty in the countryside.
“The partnership is part of DAR’s six-point agenda to use the convergence of government agencies, like the BJMP, and private organizations to give support to the farmers,” Padilla said.
“The BJMP in the municipalities of Aborlan, Narra and the City of Puerto Princesa has more than 500 PDLs. This constitutes a combined food market that would be of great help to farmer-members of agrarian reform cooperatives,” she added.
Zoraida Macadindang, regional director and a signatory in the partnership, said DAR would continue to assist and empower farmers as well as their agrarian cooperatives to increase their production and engagement in agri-based and related enterprises.
“Our farmers will get a good price for their products as the BJMP coordinates directly with agrarian cooperatives for their food requirements and modes of delivery,” she said.