Biliran, Province, A Hub of Commerce for Agri-Fisheries Community Based Organizations - Maripipi, Island

A productive and successful activity Sprouted from the Cancelled One (DSWD EPAHP-SLP CBO Capacity Building Activity in, Palo, Leyte scheduled April 5, 2024). The continuous drive of validating CBOs to delve with those who have the capacity and capability as a supplier, likewise, determine their needs in terms of support and assistance was carried out last April 4-5, 2024 by DSWD FO VIII EPAHP RPMO in the municipality of the Island of Maripipi and Caibiran, Biliran. With the attendance of the LGU Maripipi Officials and their creative and enthusiastic Local Chief Executive Mayor Joseph C. Caingcoy, during the conduct of EPAHP and NPCP Orientation.

NPCP Advocacy was thoroughly discussed, which further drew interest from the Bids and Awards and the Procurement Section in charge of the municipality, as this will pave the way for small farmers and fisherfolks to have markets for their products. The Mayor also was interested in coming up with a program against hunger and poverty that they could submit for the Galing Pook, Walang Gutom Award titled, “One Town, One Gulay, Pakbet Everyone.” A program we don’t want to miss and excited to see its implementation in Maripipi Island, Biliran.

The LGU is poised to adopt the Convergence Strategy as they find it suited to their locality, believing that this scheme will enable their Community-Based Organizations to grow and progress considering that they are an island municipality, there is a need for synergy of each government office, even the NGOs when available.

Driving south from Biliran, the Calaguise Farmers Association (ARBO) with their stakeholders was oriented with the EPAHP Program and the Negotiated Procurement/Community Participation. Currently supplying the commodities of DSWD Supplementary Feeding Program and is one of the CBOs that is qualified for Digital Mapping System (DMS) and NPCP. Nevertheless, the meeting provides them with information on what the EPAHP convergence program can provide as well as the NPCP as one of the procurement modalities where they can participate as a supplier in the government institutional feeding program.

* The Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Caibiran – Multi-purpose Cooperative (NAMACA-MPC) was likewise validated, an ARBO CBO that is qualified based on the requirements presented, a supplier needed for the SFP implementation in Caibiran to start the feeding program.