The Public Launch of the People’s Business Center (PBC) Rural-Urban Market Link: Establishing a Mechanism to Promote Inclusive Livelihood for the Marginalized Poor was held on 16 December 2022 at the Institute of Social Order (ISO) in Ateneo de Manila University. The Consortium Project is led by the Global Organic and Wellness Corporation (GlowCorp) in collaboration with the Philippine Family Farmers’ Agriculture Fishery Forestry Cooperatives Federation (AgriCOOPH), the Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (AsiaDHRRA), Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc (FSSI), the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO Network), Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), and the Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA). It is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The event was attended by 66 key leaders from various government agencies, the Consortium members, partner farmers’ organizations and cooperatives, and USAID.
Consortium members at the signing ceremony
The objectives of the gathering were: 1) To introduce the Rural-Urban Market Link Project to the public; 2) To gather and mobilize support for the project from partners and other stakeholders (government, private sector, producer and consumer organizations, cooperatives, CSOs, and development partners); and 3) To formalize the agreements between USAID and GlowCorp, and between GlowCorp and the Consortium members through MOU signing.
The project envisions agricultural producers having access to the market to sell their products to the urban consumers in the Greater Manila area to have a steady supply of affordable, safe, and nutritious food. Hence, the process favors the policy environment and the improved economic well-being of rural and urban communities and further generates livelihoods along the value chain to benefit marginalized communities, particularly women and youth.
