Ilocos Norte’s DAR and DepEd Join Forces to Support School Feeding Program and Local Farmers

Laoag, Philippines – Officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in Ilocos Norte signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday, aiming to bolster both children’s health through a school-based feeding program and the income of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

According to Philippines New Agency, the initiative, named the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty project, is designed to create a symbiotic relationship between consumers and producers. While learners receive nutritious food through the program, farmers affiliated with ARBs gain a reliable market for their products. “This partnership addresses hunger and poverty while simultaneously promoting the products of ARBs,” Ines stated after the signing ceremony at the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte.

For several years, DAR, with assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, has been supporting ARBs. This collaboration has led to various products entering the market, such as rice coffee from the Bagnos Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), rice crispies, milky bun, and fresh milk from the Camguidan MPC, and sugarcane vinegar from the Malampa MPC.

Under the new agreement, these MPCs will provide a steady supply of fresh milk and nutritious food products to the DepEd for its supplemental feeding program. The arrangement is expected to yield mutual benefits: ARBs will receive better returns on their investments, while children in the feeding program will have access to quality food products.

DepEd-Schools Division Superintendent Donato Balderas Jr. highlighted the significance of this strategic partnership in a statement, emphasizing its dual role in enhancing both local agriculture and the health and nutrition of students.