PLGU Batangas Welcomes the Directive of DSWD to Procure From Local Farmers for SFP
(Batangas City, Philippines) - The Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty - Regional Program Management Office of IV-A (EPAHP-RPMO IV-A), together with representatives from the DSWD Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), paid a courtesy visit to the Provincial Government of Batangas to discuss the linkage of local Community-based Organizations to the SFP last 11 January 2024.
In attendance are the representatives of the Batangas Provincial Social Welfare Department headed by Ms. Etheldrida Luistro, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist headed by Mr. John Mark E. Pangilinan and the Provincial Health Office headed by Ms. Cynthia E. Lacaba. During the courtesy visit, Ms. Myrna A. Maglahus-Lamug provided an EPAHP orientation to meeting attendees including the directive from DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to procure 30% of the food requirement of the SFP from local food producers and manufacturers. Part of the discussion is to introduce the Negotiated Procurement - Community Participation as means for local farmers/fisherfolk and other Community-based Organizations (CBOs) to participate in the government procurement process. RPC Maglahus-Lamug also informed the body that 51 Batangas-based CBOs have been endorsed to EPAHP by partner agencies but also encouraged the PLGU to endorse their accredited CBOs to EPAHP for validation and reference once the EPAHP-RPMO conducts courtesy visits to city and municipal local government units.
Mr. John Mark Pangilinan, Senior Agriculturist, mentioned that the Province of Batangas has accredited farmer’s federation for rice, coffee, mango, banana, crabs and oysters which can be tapped to supply to SFP. In addition, PLGU Batangas through the Provincial Agriculturist Office, is already providing market to local suppliers through their Community Food Market.
The Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) is a convergence program under IATF Zero Hunger which aims to promote food and nutrition security. In CALABARZON, 17 regional line agencies have committed to support the program by signing the EPAHP Regional MoU last 16 June 2023.- with report from MAMaglahus-Lamug