Tarlac Okra Growers Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) Makes First Delivery of Goods to Tarlac Home for Women under EPAHP Program

Tarlac City, Tarlac—On October 3, 2024, the Tarlac Okra Growers MPC, a community-based organization (CBO) under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program, made its first delivery of goods and food commodities to the Tarlac Home for Women in Tarlac City, Tarlac.

The cooperative successfully supplied food items to DSWD’s Residential Care Facilities through the National Procurement-Community Participation (NP-CP) mode of procurement. This mechanism empowers small cooperatives and enterprises to participate in bidding for agricultural, fishery, and other products, which are directly purchased from them.

The primary objective of the EPAHP Program is to connect CBOs with institutional markets, supporting inclusive economic growth while alleviating hunger and poverty. This recent delivery by the Tarlac Okra Growers Cooperative marks a significant milestone in this mission, as EPAHP continues to create opportunities for cooperatives and small enterprises to engage with markets, securing their livelihoods and promoting sustainable development.

According to Ms. Jacqueline C. Bautista, Center Head of the Tarlac Home for Women, “This initiative is really good and has advantages since the supplier is just near the center, and the food items are of higher quality. Most importantly, we are also helping CBOs engaged in this kind of activity, making them familiar with government procurement and shaping them to have bigger markets in the future.”

This milestone is a step forward in ensuring that small cooperatives continue to play a vital role in addressing hunger and poverty across the region.