CALABARZON LGUs Welcome Initiative to Link Farmers with SFP
Muntinlupa City (26 March 2025) - 142 LGUs from the 5 provinces of CALABARZON participated in the 5 batches of the Program Review and Evaluation for the 14th Cycle of the DSWD Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP PREW). The SFP PREW, which ran from 26 February 2025 to 26 March 2025, is an avenue to provide CALABARZON LGUs with updates and necessary technical assistance for an enhanced implementation of the 15th Cycle of SFP.
One of the key discussions during the SFP PREW is the procurement of food requirements from local Community-based Organizations (CBOs), including SLPAs, farmer and fisherfolk enterprises and cooperatives. Mr. Diego Salas, the GPPB-recognized trainor, provided an orientation on R.A. 12009 “An Act Revising the Government Procurement Reform Act”, focusing on the adoption of the Negotiated Procurement-Community Participation (NP-CP). “The challenge we face is that many of our farmers and fisherfolk do not have accreditation or registration documents. As LGU staff, it is our responsibility to assist them so they can comply with regulations. Let us help our own farmers by providing them with market opportunities closer to their communities.” In addition, he stressed the need for convergence among different stakeholders to ensure that local food producers and manufacturers are able to participate in government procurement. The LGUs of Ibaan and Batangas City shared their actual experiences in purchasing the food requirement of the 14th Cycle of SFP from local farmer cooperatives during the learning session.
The SFP PREW was a collaboration of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) and the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Each batch of the SFP PREW was hosted by the concerned Provincial Government through the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office. In support of Sagip Saka Act 2019 and GPPB Res. No. 18-2021, Sec. Rex Gatchalian issued a directive last November 2023 to all DSWD Field Offices to procure the food requirements of SFP, CRCF and BangUn from local CBOs. For more information, contact Myrna A. Maglahus-Lamug at mmlamug@dswd.org.ph