TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Wednesday, January 17, sealed a new partnership agreement in the implementation of NNC’s “Tutok Kainan” Dietary Supplementation Program in Eastern Visayas.

DAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu and Nutrition Program Coordinator Catalino Dotollo Jr. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in a simple ceremony held at the DAR Regional Office to continue its partnership in the implementation of the Phase 6 of the “Tutok Kainan.”

Dotollo explained that nutritionally at-risk pregnant women from 54 municipalities in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar are the recipients of Phase 6 of the said program.

Under this engagement, DAR will recommend agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) that are proximate to the above identified areas capable of supplying fresh farm products, while NNC will serve as a direct market buying fresh food items from the ARBOs needed in the preparation of supplemental food for pregnant women.

According to Dotollo, “With our ‘Tutok Kainan,’ we also want our ARBOs to have income while addressing malnutrition and hunger among our children and pregnant women. It’s hitting two birds with our engagement with the DAR through their respective ARBOs.”

“Based on experience, our engagement with ARBOs is better,” said Dotollo. “Kasi presko talaga ang mga pagkain na ibibigay sa ating mga target clientele,” he added.

Last year, eight ARBOs from the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, and Northern Samar were able to enter into a marketing agreement with NNC in the amount of P10.2 million for the Phase 3 and Phase 5 of “Tutok Kainan.”

Meanwhile, Yu commented that NNC’s "Tutok Kainan" is a golden opportunity to establish new industries paving a way to new projects, and other enterprises to cater the entrepreneurial needs of our ARBs and ARBOs. (JAS/DAR-8)