MANILA, Philippines – Jollibee Foundation, Inc., the social responsibility arm of one of the country’s largest food conglomerates, and Sagip Saka, an advocacy program of the Office of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Congressional Oversight Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide P11.8 million worth of assistance to agricultural communities in eight provinces around the Philippines.
The funds will be used to provide post-harvest facilities such as rain shelters, transportation vehicles, and tractors; agricultural equipment such as water pumps for irrigation; inputs; and other forms of assistance that are aimed to increase the productivity and income of onion, red pepper, tomato, and lettuce farmers.
Recipient communities come from Vigan, Caoayan, and Sinait in Ilocos Sur; Alaminos, Alcala, Bani, and Aguilar in Pangasinan; Tarlac City, Tarlac; Alabat, Quezon Province; San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur; Mati, Davao Oriental; and Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.
Over 400 farmers and their families in 13 sites in the eight provinces will benefit from the program.
According to Pangilinan, “Sagip Saka is our advocacy that aims to achieve sustainable modern agriculture and food security by transforming agricultural communities to reach their full potential, improving farmers’ and fishers’ quality of life, and bridging gaps through public-private partnerships…
Based on our experience, Sagip Saka has been a good example of the power of public-private partnerships for rural development, because it brings back the dignity and the primacy of the Filipino farmer. It also strives to uplift the quality of life of our farmers and fisherfolk.”