ARMM, UN-WFP implement food-for-work program
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2016
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) distributed close to 3,000 sacks of rice and containers of palmoline oil to farmers in South Upi town in Maguindanao province, one of the towns in the region severely hit by drought.
The distribution is under the Food-for-Work program implemented by the region’s humanitarian and emergency action response team in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP). ARMM Executive Secretary lawyer Laisa Alamia and UN-WFP Program Officer Michael Argonza led the food distribution on 28 June. “This is just the first batch of assistance in the three barangays in South Upi that include Barangay Biarong, Lamud and Bongo, we will also implement this program in other barangays,” Atty. Alamia said. The food-for-work program is only one response in the ARMM action plan for areas recently hit by El Niño phenomenon as well as areas expected to suffer from La Niña, which is now felt in various parts of Mindanao. The ARMM government has earmarked P7 million for the food-for-work program in South Upi alone. Under the program, Atty. Alamia said, the government hires target beneficiaries in planting root crops and in cleaning up drainage canals and other infrastructures. Each beneficiary will be paid each month one sack of rice and palmoline oil. The farmers will receive the assistance for three months and they will get the bulk of harvest (from the farms they planted with crops), Atty. Alamia said. She also reiterated that her office will continue to monitor the progress of the program. Among the beneficiaries is
Jonjie Leon, a 22-year old farmer, who expressed his gratitude for the aid. “Malaki po talaga tulong ng programang ito para sa amin, minsan po kasi sa pagsasaka walang kasiguraduahan kung may maiuuwi kami sa aming pamilya, pero sa ganitong klaseng programa sigurado po na may makakain ang pamilya ko araw-araw (This program helps us a lot since there is no assurance if our regular harvest would be enough to feed our family on a daily basis),” Leon said. Prior to the food distribution, the UN-WFP already provided the same assistance in three barangays namely Barangay Looy, Romangaob and Kuya. “With the help of the ARMM government, we send assistance to different barangays in South Upi not only to help mitigate the effects of drought but also in preparation for the impact of La Niña,” Argonza said. Atty. Alamia said they will strengthen the disaster risk reduction management councils in all the municipalities that are severely affected by El Niño and those that would be affected by La Niña. (BPIARMM/APB/PIA-10)
4ID launches project shoebox CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – The 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division of the Philippine Army in partnership with the Department of Education, National Commission on Indigenous People, Philippine Information Agency and local chief executives in Regions 10 and Caraga launched on June 28 a joint project dubbed as “Project Shoebox” held at 4ID Grandstand, Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City. A total of 32,739 shoeboxes containing school supplies have been produced and are set to be distributed for Kindergarten to Grade 6 students located in far flung communities in the two regions. The project started last February 2012 during the time of then Ltc Thomas Sedano, Jr., commanding officer of the 4th Light Armor “Masigasig” Battalion, Philippine Army based in Lucena City, Quezon province when they conceptualized an advocacy that would encourage everyone to help the less fortunate people alleviate their plights particularly in far flung communities. MGen Benjamin R Madrigal Jr., 4ID commander has expressed his gratitude to all their partners who supported in the realization of the project and advocacy for peace and development. Among those benefactors include the National Bookstore, SM Foundation Inc., and the 2GO Express who offered a free shipment upon learning about the advocacy. Through this project shoebox,
we are sharing our blessing to the less fortunate families especially in the far flung areas where basic services could hardly reach their places, said Madrigal. He also said we are doing this joint endeavor because everybody believes that education of our youth is the prime important for the future of our country. In response, DepEd Region 10 Chief Educational Support Division Noe P. Simene expressed on behalf of the regional director their support on the project. Likewise, NCIP Regional Director Roberto L Almonte, 4ID Multi-Sector Advisory Board Member Ariel C. Hernandez, and Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare and Development Officer Teodoro A. Sabuga-a Jr, have pledged their commitment and support for the sustainability of the project. (4ID/PA/PIA)
27 Bukidnon folks receive livelihood assistance from food corporation VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon – Pilmico, the food subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., continues to champion backyard farming and sustainable livelihoods in the country through its donation of piglets, egg machines and bakery kits here. Over 500 people from Bukidnon and nearby provinces witnessed the turn over ceremony of livelihood packages — piglets, egg machines and bakery kits — to 27 beneficiaries during Pilmico’s “Mahalin Pagkaing Atin (Love and patronize our own produce)” food and livelihood expo at TS MIX-SMS Gymnasium, HagKol, Valencia City, Bukidnon on 28 June 2016. The livelihood assistance, which consists of 30 piglets (each with onecycle feed consumption), 10 egg machines (48-chicken set each with one month feed consumption) and 2 bakery starter kits (1-deck 4-tray bread oven, bread rack, working table, a delivery bike and 10 bags of flour), will enable local farmers to sustain their livelihoods through an easy-tomanage business with a quick return on investment, despite the threats of poverty, tragedy or conflict. These donations are part of Pilmico’s ‘Mahalin Pagkaing Atin’ program. A campaign introduced in mid-2014 that aims to promote sustainable entrepreneurship through
promotion of local produce and instill a “pride of product, pride of place” mindset for both farmers and local consumers, thus enabling operators to maximize profit without passing through middlemen. In Bukidnon, Chef Boy Logro, Ambassador for ‘Mahalin Pagkaing Atin’ program, and Assistant Vice President for Visayas and Mindanao Feed Sales, among other guests, graced the food and livelihood expo. To date, Pilmico has already donated a total of 910 piglets, 262 egg machines, 8 bakery starter packages as well as assisted 14 agri-posts where beneficiaries received feedbags as restart-up capital. “Ensuring sustainable entrepreneurship for Filipino farmers is at the heart of our vision to become ‘partners for growth.’ We hope that these piglets, egg machines and bakery kits will serve as the right tools to enable our farmers to develop sustainable livelihoods in the years to come,” said Sabin Aboitiz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pilmico Foods Corporation.
Aside from the turnover of livelihood kits, Pilmico also hosted several lectures on animal husbandry and nutrition, basic and advanced baking demos as well as microfinancing and branding seminars. Attendees were also treated to cooking demos led by Mahalin Pagkaing Atin Ambassador Chef Boy Logro, where Bukidnon’s different flavors were showcased using pork, chicken, & eggs.
Pilmico, guided by its vision to become Partners for Growth, has been providing costumers with high-quality wheat flour and related products since 1962. It also excels in swine & poultry production and animal feeds. With its consistent excellence and top-notch products, Pilmico ensures market competitiveness by increasing costumer satisfaction. (Anna Carreon, CorpComm-MRS, PILMICO)