CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) awarded ₱35 million in contracts to a total of 107 community-based organizations (CBOs) in Central Luzon last year under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program.
This initiative aims to connect local producers to institutional markets and buyers while boosting food security in the region.
DSWD Region 3 Policy and Plans Division OIC-Chief Paula Marie Lascano explained that EPAHP is a sustainable anti-hunger initiative rather than a short-term aid program.
“This is not a dole out mentality. EPAHP empowers cooperatives and farmers’ organizations by linking them directly to institutional markets such as DSWD centers, LGUs [local government units], and the BJMP [Bureau of Jail Management and Penology],” she said.
The program aims to ensure steady supply of fresh, nutritious food for government-supported programs such as supplemental feeding, residential care facilities, and other social welfare initiatives, while improving the livelihoods of small producers.
“We want to improve the quality of life so that their income will also increase. Once there is sustenance, the time will come when they won’t need the help of DSWD,” Lascano explained.
For his part, EPAHP Regional Program Coordinator Maynard Cezar highlighted the technical support provided to CBOs to ensure quality and compliance with government procurement standards.
“We ensure that our CBOs are capacitated technically in their production, product quality, financial capacity, bookkeeping, and legal readiness so they can qualify as government suppliers,” Cezar said.
He noted that EPAHP focuses on both livelihood and employment opportunities.
“We link farmers, fisherfolk, and small vendors to the market. Even the government has demand for fresh produce, and our CBOs are now supplying supplemental feeding programs and residential care facilities,” Cezar added.
The City Government of Balanga, for example, awarded ₱3.2 million worth of contracts through negotiated procurement to local CBOs, demonstrating the program’s impact at the community level.
Lascano noted that participation of barangays and LGUs is crucial to organize groups and reach target beneficiaries.
Piloted in 2016 and institutionalized in 2019 through a national memorandum of understanding spearheaded by DSWD, EPAHP continues to strengthen food and nutrition security, improve livelihoods, and empower communities in the fight against hunger. (MJSC/AJMP, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
