DAR to assist ARB suppliers in dealing with private firms

FILE: AID FOR ARBs. DAR Support Services Underscretary Emily Padilla says the agency plans to connect 5,228 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to an institutional buyer for them to have an established market, during a forum on Thursday (Dec. 5, 2019). Currently, DAR is in talks with business players Lazada and Gerry’s Grill. (Contributed photo via PNA)

MANILA — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Monday said it plans to strengthen the capabilities of its Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) to conduct business with private companies.

Through the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PHAP), a convergence of services by DAR, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government and other participating government agencies, the government agency aims to sustainably reduce poverty and hunger nationwide.

Agrarian Reform Support Services Office (SSO) Undersecretary Emily Padilla said PHAP’s goal is to connect 5,228 agrarian reform beneficiaries or the agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) to an institutional buyer for them to have an established market.

“We are currently talking with institutionalized markets like Lazada and Gerry’s Grill, which has 117 branches so that our ARBs would have regular markets to supply their farm products,” Padilla said in an interview.

She added that as the current PHAP would be launched into an Enhanced PHAP, they would approach other institutions like the Department of Health, Department of Education, DSWD, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and other government agencies, where the ARBs could also supply their products.

Meanwhile, DAR Policy, Planning, and Research Office Undersecretary Virginia Orogo said the PHAP program, while it boosts the lives of the farmers, will also ensure 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,” Orogo said.

DAR-PHAP has covered 27 provinces for 2019, which include Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugo, 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.

Following the event, the DAR said it expects the resolution of issues and concerns on program implementation and the indicative program directive for next year.