14 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City — The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Nutrition Council X (NNC X) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Bukidnon, and Marketing Agreement (MA) between NNC X and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations was a success. The activity was conducted last 8 April 2021 at the DAR-Bukidnon Provincial Office Conference Room, Airport Village, Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Among the attendees of the event were representatives from the DAR Regional Office (DARRO) 10 in the person of Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) I Paul J. Paulin and Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Rholyn A. Jumapit, PARPO II Norberto R. Paquingan, PARPO I Bernardita M. Lozaga, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Phoebe I. Noval, and Agrarian Reform Program Officers (ARPOs) of the recipient local government units from DAR-Bukidnon, and representatives from the seven (7) partner ARBOs. Present also during the ceremony were representatives from Bukidnon Province Nutrition Office and Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) recipient LGUs. Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC) Gladys Mae S. Fernandez and Provincial Nutrition Coordinator (PNC) Stephanie C. Barrio from NNC X facilitated the activity.
NPC Fernandez and PARPO II Paquingan signed the MOU. On the other hand, NPC Fernandez and the representatives of the six (6) out of the seven (7) partner ARBOs namely, Felix A. Cabesas of Kadingilan Pay-As Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Inc. (KAPARBA), Dante D. Pajaron of Araneta Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AFARBAMCO), Joyce S. Geron of Green Valley Agrarian Reform Cooperative (GVARC), by Lydia M. Yambagon of Agri Growers For Greater Improvement On Environment And Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AGGIES MPC), Emmanuelito A. Ngujo of Springside ARB Irrigators and Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIFAMCO), and Antonio B. Juanitas Sr. of Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Cooperative (MARBFC) inked the MA.
The partnership was made for the implementation of the wet feeding scheme of the TK DSP in the Province of Bukidnon where nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and 6-23 months old children beneficiaries will be provided with hot meals, of which the partner ARBOs will supply fresh commodities and other ingredients. This is in support to the Enhanced Partnership against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program that aims to uplift the economic situations of the local farmers and other community-based organizations such as ARBOs, alleviating both hunger and poverty that may cause malnutrition. (PNC Stephanie C. Barrio)
