Two Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) from Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur have secured contracts to supply food for the government’s feeding program.

The ARBOs are the San Isidro Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIMPUCO) of Surigao del Norte and the Maticdum Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAFAMCO) of Surigao del Sur.

“This is a significant opportunity for us to grow as a cooperative and enhance our economic standing, which will benefit our members,” Martiniano Enario, SIMPUCO chairperson, said in an interview on Tuesday.

The ARBOs were selected through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on Monday by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 13 (Caraga Region) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) 13.

SIMPUCO, based in Gigaquit town and registered with the Cooperative Development Authority since November 1991, has about 405 active members. More than half of them are agrarian reform beneficiaries, while the rest are rice and vegetable farmers.

“We will be supplying rice for the NNC’s feeding program, though we have not yet been informed of the exact quantity required each month. We assure DAR and NNC that we can meet their rice demands,” Enario said.

The agreed purchase price is PHP2,600 per 50-kg. sack of rice.

DAR-13 Director Merlita Capinpuyan stated that the MOA signing was part of the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program, a multi-agency initiative aimed at improving food security and reducing hunger.

“Under PAHP, ARBOs are given opportunities to engage with institutional markets, like the NNC and private businesses,” Capinpuyan said.

The supplies from SIMPUCO and MAFAMCO will support the NNC’s Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program in the region. (PNA)