AsiaDHRRA and the People’s Business Center (PBC) visited the AgriCOOPh Federation and the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (Phildhrra) on 22 June 2023. The team involved AsiaDHRRA’s Mr. Cezar Belangel and Mr. Edmond Carpeso, and PBC’s Vicky Serrato and Wilma Guinto came to discuss the latest Rural-Urban Market Link (RUML) project updates and planning.
Ms. Lany Jimenez, AgriCOOPh’s Project Lead and Membership Relations Officer, informed the team of their latest organizational structure and the accountable staff for the initiative. AgriCOOPh’s engagement with government agency projects like the Feeding Program of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger Program (EPAHP) by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were also highlighted during the meeting.
The PhilDHRRA team, represented by Ms. Katlea Itong, National Coordinator, Ms. Caring Corridor, and Ms. Felicidad Corpus, temporary Marketing Officers for RUML, accommodated AsiaDHRRA and the PBC team and has provided their role and project status updates. They are promoting their Farmers’ Organization products, including Zabroso and other direct purchases of vegetables from PBC, and will explore other means to market by engaging establishments surrounding the subdivisions and condominiums.
The Rural-Urban Market Link is a USAID – US Agency for International Development– funded project led by GlowCorp, which aims to develop a business mechanism to facilitate the consolidation of agricultural products and crafts and link to urban communities, particularly in the Greater Manila Area. The initiative is supported by other consortium members, namely the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. – FSSI, the National Confederation of Cooperatives (Natcco Network), and The Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies Association, Inc. (PHILSSA).
