Indicated in Goal No. 2 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is the objective of Zero Hunger. This goal aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture as adopted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Enhance Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is a notable program of the agency’s response to the realization of SDG’s second Goal. The Cooperative Development Authority partnered with the DSWD in supporting the EPAHP program by endorsing cooperatives to participate in its implementation and be accredited with the latter. Relative to this partnership, the DSWD conducted a validation of the endorsed cooperative for the forging of the Memorandum of Agreement with those who qualified under the Negotiated Procurement -Community Participation (NP-CP).   To materialize this program, the agency held a ceremony for the signing of the Purchase Orders with the identified Community Based Organizations (CBOs) on August 31, 2023 at the Golden Valley Hotel, Cebu City. These identified CBOs are the following registered cooperatives from the three (3) provinces of the region:

BOHOL – Bohol Bayanihan MPC, PNB KGB MPC, Loon Service Providers MPC, Buon Pastore Agriculture Cooperative, Bohol DAR Employees MPC, and Guioang Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative.

CEBU – San Roque Women Women Action for Progress Community MPC, Carcar Communities and Farmers MPC, Sibonga MPC, Mandilikit MPC, Kawasan Nature Park MPC, First Consolidated Cooperative Along Tañon Seaboards, Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative, Tayud MPC, Compostela Market Vendors MPC, and Sta. Fe MPC.

NEGROS ORIENTAL – Sycip Plantation Farmworkers Agrarian Cooperative, and Bonbonon Farmers Agrarian Reform MPC.

This significant event was attended by the partners of this program namely the Department of Agriculture (DA) represented by Dr. Wilberto O. Castillo, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) represented by Ms. Mary Felannie Llaguno, and the Cooperative Development Authority represented by Mr. Saldy E. Balate. Dir. Shalaine S. Lucero, the Regional Director of DSWD 7 reminded the beneficiaries to take care of this partnership so that this will continue and more opportunities will be awarded to them with the agency’s future programs.

Before the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr. Balate, the representative of CDA, was given the opportunity to give his message of support on behalf of the agency. He affirmed before the Director of DSWD and the partners present that the cooperatives who are beneficiaries of the program are now ready to start the engine and take off for the common goal of ending hunger through the EPAHP program. (S. Balate)