KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) — Two nationwide campaigns addressing hunger and poverty are bolstering community-based organizations (CBO) to meet food requirements for government programs, including supplementary feeding and nutrition activities.
The Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) and the Alliance of Cooperatives Against Hunger and Poverty (ACAHP) have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines collaborative efforts to promote negotiated procurement-community participation (NP-CP) aimed at benefiting CBOs.
National Coordinators Johnell DC Acosta and Cresente Paez represented EPAHP and ACAHP, respectively, at the MOU signing.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Innovations Baldr H. Bringas referred to the MOU signing as a “defining highlight” of the collaboration between EPAHP and ACAHP in a message read by DSWD Regional Director Loreto Jr. Cabaya.
“This alliance serves as a beacon of convergence, opening doors for marginalized groups, and paving the way for economic empowerment,” Bringas stated.
He also called on the stakeholders to “continue to champion participatory governance, build resilient communities and work hand-in-hand in bringing prosperity where it [is] needed most.”
NP-CP is a procurement method established under the Philippine Government Procurement Reform Act, also known as Republic Act No. 9184, as amended by RA 12009.
It allows farmer/fisherfolk organizations, women’s associations, cooperatives and other CBOs to participate in government procurement and directly deliver goods, services, or simple infrastructure projects.
Under this scheme, a CBO can bid as supplier for services or goods up to P5 million in cost–or more, depending on the request of the procuring entity.
EPAHP is a multi-agency and multi-stakeholder partnership focused on improving food and nutrition security by linking CBOs to potential markets.
The program also involves partnerships with government financial institutions, such as LandBank, to provide credit assistance and market access.
It also provides technological support, infrastructure development, and expert guidance to improve agricultural practices.
Meanwhile, ACAHP is a collaborative initiative that empowers cooperatives, particularly those in agriculture, to combat hunger and poverty.
Inspired by Brazil’s Food Procurement Program, ACAHP focuses on creating fair market access for small-scale farmers by enabling cooperatives to supply food directly to public entities through NP-CP.
As agreed in the signed MOU, EPAHP, among other responsibilities, shall provide relevant and timely information, communication, and feedback. regarding updates and major issues affecting the food procurement program.
It shall also facilitate the access and linkage of the ACAHP to the National Program Management Office (NPMO) and where applicable, enable its member cooperatives and partners to engage with the Regional PMOs for participation in related meetings, training programs, and planning sessions.
On the other hand, ACAHP shall organize regional forums that will serve as platforms to engage local cooperatives, procurement entities, and civil society organizations in exploring opportunities for piloting the NP-CP modality in Mindanao.
ACAHP shall also build the capacity of cooperatives for effective NP-CP implementation, including planning mechanisms and production coordination.
It shall also advocate for the refinement of the guidelines of RA 9184, as amended by RA 12009, in relation to the provisions governing NP-CP, as well as strengthen the capacity of cooperatives to effectively participate in NPCP for food procurement programs.
ACAHP shall also support the establishment and enhancement of a monitoring system for NPCP among procuring entities, local government units, and supplier cooperatives.
This monitoring system shall enable cooperatives and their farmer-members to efficiently track costs, inputs, and pricing, ensuring transparency and accountability in procurement processes.
EPAHP and ACAHP plan to pilot this partnership in several local government units of Soccsksargen Region this year.
Soccsksargen Region covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Kidapawan. (DED, PIA Region 12)
