For two consecutive years, 78th Infantry “Warrior” Battalion is awarded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as among the top institutional markets of products from Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in the country.
The 78IB had earlier entered into a marketing agreement with the San Gabriel Integrated
Farmers Association (SAGIFA) where the SAGIFA will serve as 78IB’s supplier of agricultural products for the daily food requirements of military personnel.
In 2023, the 78IB’s purchases with SAGIFA reached ₱310,090.00 making them the top institutional buyer among the Philippine Army of ARBOs’ products under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) project.
PAHP is a government initiative to promote food security, lessen poverty and mitigate hunger by 2030. It is a joint effort of various government agencies which include the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Education DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) who will serve as institutional markets for ARBO products.
Awardees
Lt. Col. Joseph Bugaoan, 78IB acting commanding officer, received the award from DAR Undersecretary for Support Services, Rowena Niña Taduran, during the awarding rites held at Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City last June 27.
On the same occasion, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Eastern Visayas was likewise recognized as second highest purchaser among NNCs nationwide in 2023 with a combined purchases from two ARBOs in Leyte reaching ₱2.3 million.
NNC Eastern Visayas engaged with Tagbawto-Hilusig Communal Irrigators Association in Hilongos, Leyte and the Omaganhan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Tabango, Leyte for NNC’s Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program.
Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, DAR Regional Director in Eastern Visayas, expressed his gratitude to the 78IB, NNC and all institutional buyers for engaging with the ARBOs serving as stable markets for their products.
Meanwhile, the DAR Leyte-Biliran and the DAR Eastern Samar provincial offices were also recognized for their invaluable contribution in the empowerment and improvement of the socio-economic welfare of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) involved in the implementation of the PAHP project in 2023.
(Reports from Jose Alsmith L. Soria/DAR)
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