The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Misamis Oriental has partnered with the Cagayan de Oro City Jail-Male Dormitory to assist an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) to have a steady market to supply their agricultural products as part of the food requirements of the detainees in CDO.
Misamis Oriental Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Maybelle T. Alcala said the partnership is part of the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program to ensure a steady market for the farm produce of the DAR-assisted ARBO Mat-i Farmers MPC (MAFAMCO) located in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.
The marketing agreement establishes MAFAMCO as an exclusive supplier of vegetables to its direct buyer, the CDO City Male-Jail Dormitory.
“This program guarantees the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with a ready market for their products while the jails are assured of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables,” Alcala said.
She said that the Cagayan de Oro City Jail-Male Dormitory will buy MAFAMCO products based on the prevailing market price, and the food supply will be picked up in a designated area.
“Under the EPAHP, instead of buying food supplies elsewhere, the city, district, and municipality jails, as well as the Department of Health’s-retained hospitals are encouraged to buy food supplies for the feeding of persons deprived of liberty and hospital patients, from the agrarian cooperatives,” Alcala explained.
She said that a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between MAFAMCO as represented by its coop Chairman Serecio G. Ido and the Cagayan de Oro City Jail-Male Dormitory represented by Jail Superintendent Gregorio C. Acacio, as the institutional buyer for the farmers’ harvests.
Alcala ensured other future partnerships with other agencies to continue providing services to the ARBs. (DAR)-rir
