In order to address the issues relating to poverty and hunger, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol forge partnership with the Brazilian Government, Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to provide essential social services directly benefiting the poor in rural areas.

Minister Milton Rhondo Filho and Engr. Israel Leoname Frolich Klug of Brazil, World Food Dipayan Bhattaccharrya recently visit some areas in Bicol Region for the social development projects to be implemented and poor households in rural communities.

According to Minister Filho the visit aims to assess the area where they can provide technical assistance and services to assist small scale farmer’s increase their products; and to strengthen and secure the future and health of the children by providing them a good quality of food products.

He added that the Brazilian government will be sending their consultant for 7 months to stay in the Region to study, assess and carefully plan out the projects to be implemented.

Famers organized by DAR, day care children and beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of DSWD, and community residents in the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Camaries Norte will be the recipients of the project.

Also present during the visit was Agrarian Reform National Project Director Hernan Ongkiko, DSWD Director Dulfie Tobia-Shalim, DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, DSWD-Bicol Assistant Regional Corazon B. Mina, and DAR-Bicol Assistant Regional Director Rodrigo O. Realubit and other DAR, DA, and DSWD staff.

Establishment of Community Food Hub

A plan to put up a community food hub project will be implemented. This will be jointly established by DSWD, DAR and DA. The hub will serve as service facility where farmers specifically the beneficiaries of DAR will have a venue to market their produce.

It will also ensure the supply of food needed by the feeding program in day care centers. “This food hub will also encourage the residents in the community to patronize their local products. It will be cost efficient as the farmers will limit their expenses in transporting their goods. Residents will no longer go to other neighboring municipalities or provinces to buy food products,” said Minister Filho.

In addition, he said the products that are sold to the community are of quality, as the residents themselves will take into consideration that the products they sold will be fed to their children.

According to Engr. Klug the food hub should be put up in area that is accessible to day care centers, with land area of 500 sq. m. and should not be situated in disaster prone areas.

Additional Support

DAR will also provide technical assistance to farmers and beneficiary families of Pantawid Pamilya who will be engaging in communal and backyard gardening for vegetables livestock and poultry.

Financial assistance or capital assistance will also be provided to farmers to ensure on time delivery of products which will be processed and packaged for the needed supply in the feeding program of DSWD.

Along infrastructure and facilities for the food hub, funding support will be sought from World Food Program. These facilities are rice milling, sold storage, processing, packaging and warehousing.

Local government units will also provide their counterpart contribution for the establishment of building that will be used as a food hub.

Hunger Mitigation in Brazil

Brazil has been known for being the Center of Excellence against Hunger. The country has been successful in tackling poverty and hunger on its own with their “Hunger Zero” program which greatly contributes to lessen malnutrition and rural poverty by supporting local farmers and locally sourced consumption.

At present, Brazilian government has been feeding almost 46M students in school.

According to Director Arnel B. Garcia collaborative effort of the various government agencies would create a greater synergy in engaging the poor households work closely with rural communities to improve social capital while addressing hunger and poverty reduction.

A hope to the people

In Barangay Mayon, Castilla Sorsogon, which is one of the barangay’s to pilot the implementation of the project, Lonito Mendez, president of the Mayon Farmer’s Association expressed his deepest thank to the Brazilian Government and the various government agencies  included in the project. “Salamat po sa indo asin makakaasa man po kamo na kami po ay gigibuhon mi man an samuyang parte sa pag-implementa kan project,” he said.

Barangay Captain Freddi Ballatan said he hopes that the project will materialized. “Dahil sa totoo lang po ay kapag kami nagsasaka, sarong sako pa lang kan fertilizer duwang sakong aning palay na ang pinangbabayad mi duman na kung minsan ay lugi na ang kinikita at baon pa kami sa utang,” he added.

A pantawid beneficiary Viginia P. Perez also thank the participating agencies, WFP and brazil for the project. “Ako po ay may limang anak at sa totoo lang po ay malaki po ang matitipid naming kun sakaling may food hub na, dahil bukod sa mura na ang magiging produkto ay sigurado pa kami sa pipakaon mi sa mga aki mi,” she said.

She added that her husband was also a farmer and it will be a great help to them to improve their living.***Glorei Allelu N. Lindio, Information Officer