Recognizing the importance of ensuring food security and proper nutrition among vulnerable sectors, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to strengthen its partnerships with other government agencies and other organizations.
Through its field offices (FOs), the DSWD signed regional memorandum of understandings and agreements (RMOU/A) with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to ensure food supplies in jail facilities.
“As the chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (IATF-ZH) and the lead of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program, the DSWD recognizes the importance of a whole-of-government approach in ensuring food security among vulnerable sectors, including Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL),” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said on Friday (February 7).
DSWD FO 10 – Northern Mindanao Regional Director Ramel Jamen signed an agreement with BJMP Regional Director JCSUPT Cesar Langawin last February 3.
Other DSWD FOs have inked similar partnerships with the BJMP and other member agencies of the EPAHP from 2022 to 2024.
“At present, we have 15 FOs that have a MOA or MOU with the regional counterparts of BJMP,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
In the signed MOUs and MOAs, the DSWD through the EPAHP-Regional Management Offices will lead the Regional Convergence Teams in coordinating and rationalizing the efforts of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to ensure a whole-of-government approach in attaining zero hunger in the region.
The DSWD will also monitor and evaluate the government’s progress in ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
For their part, BJMP’s respective regional offices agreed to establish partnerships with EPAHP-accredited community-based organizations (CBOs) offering agricultural products necessary for the preparation of meals for PDLs and guidelines on the proper implementation of the EPAHP Program.
In 2024, the EPAHP Program linked a total of 31 CBOs to BJMP regional offices, making them one of the suppliers of food and other produce in the different jail facilities nationwide.
“By linking CBOs and small-holder farmers to prospective markets, we are helping them sell their food products. Last year, 31 CBOs secured a total of Php754,859.00 worth of contracts with BJMP,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
In a memorandum circular (MC) issued by the Office of the President in April 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr directed all government agencies and instrumentalities to support the EPAHP Program.
President Marcos also directed the members of the IATF-ZH to link participating CBOs to prospective markets and adopt community participation procurement to encourage CBOs to participate in the EPAHP Program.
The EPAHP Program aims to institutionalize efforts to mitigate hunger and promote food and nutrition security by linking CBOs to prospective markets and providing credit assistance to support food production, processing, and distribution. (YADP)
