Four agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) from Benguet have formalized marketing agreements with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), paving the way for wider market opportunities.
The agreements involve the DAR Provincial Office of Benguet, four ARBOs, and eight BJMP offices in Baguio City and Benguet. They aim to establish a steady market for agricultural products while helping meet the nutritional needs of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PHAP), participating farmer cooperatives will supply quality agricultural products to BJMP facilities at reasonable prices. The initiative seeks to address hunger and food security concerns while providing farmers with more reliable sources of income through government procurement.
DAR-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Director Sheila B. Enciso thanked the BJMP-CAR for its continued partnership with the Department and reaffirmed DAR’s commitment to strengthening ARBOs through sustained support and market-linking initiatives.
‘Through partnerships like this, we are opening more market opportunities for our agrarian reform beneficiaries while helping provide nutritious food to persons deprived of liberty. DAR will continue to work with our partner agencies to strengthen our farmers’ cooperatives, improve their capacity to supply institutional buyers, and help them achieve a more stable and sustainable livelihood,’ Enciso said.
She also highlighted the Value Chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Communities (VISTA) Project as one of DAR’s initiatives to help ARBOs improve their operations, strengthen their participation in agricultural value chains, and expand their market opportunities.
Through partnerships with government agencies and other institutions, DAR seeks to help farmers’ organizations become more competitive and financially sustainable.
During the open forum, participants discussed government procurement requirements, including compliance with the Sagip Saka Act, which promotes direct market access for farmers and fisherfolk by enabling qualified farmer organizations to supply government agencies.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Lailani A. Cortez assured the participating ARBOs of continued assistance in building their capacity to meet procurement requirements. She also emphasized the office’s readiness to provide training and guidance on government procurement platforms, particularly to help cooperatives overcome digital access and technical challenges when aThe four participating ARBOs are the Taba-ao Cuba Multipurpose Cooperative (TACUMPC) of Kapangan, Caliking Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (CFMPC) of Atok, Bokod Sulfur Spring Multipurpose Cooperative (BSSMC) of Bokod, and Taloy Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (TAFARMCO) of Tuba.
The activity was also attended by BJMP-CAR Regional Director JCSUPT Delvic L. Oreiro, together with BJMP-CAR Assistant Regional Director for Administration JSSUPT Atty. Reynaldo A. Paguirigan Jr. Also present were representatives of the Philippine National Police-Benguet, led by PMAJ Edwin Sergio, and Benguet Provincial Jail Administrative Officer Joice Miller.
Through the PAHP, DAR and its partner agencies continue to promote stronger links between farmer cooperatives and institutional buyers, helping improve food security, expand market access, and create more sustainable livelihood opportunities for agrarian reform beneficiaries.