The Department of Agriculture (DA) and San Miguel Foods inked a partnership to improve market access for Filipino farmers, focusing on the corn industry.
Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro, representing Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and San Miguel Foods Group General Manager Emmanuel Macalalag led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the San Miguel Foods office in Pasig City.
The initiative aims to resolve supply chain issues by providing farmers direct access to major buyers, particularly corn.
The agreement ensures farmers will receive secure and timely payments through bank transfers.
The agreement ensures farmers will receive secure and timely payments through bank transfers, addressing one of the sector’s key pain points.
Navarro, a former Philippine Corn Federation president, stressed the importance of improving postharvest infrastructure.
“This partnership offers farmers direct access to buyers, but we must also invest in postharvest facilities to ensure high-quality crops that meet market demands.”
“This partnership offers farmers direct access to buyers, but we must also invest in postharvest facilities to ensure high-quality crops that meet market demands,” he said.
The DA has committed to enhance postharvest facilities as part of its broader sustainable agriculture strategy. This infrastructure is expected to complement the marketing channels created under the partnership.
Other key officials at the signing included DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo and San Miguel Foods executives Senior Vice President Rita Imelda Palabyab, PANB General Manager Leo Obviar, and PANB Procurement Head Jose Marcelo Blanco.
The collaboration is projected to uplift the livelihood of Filipino farmers, promote sustainable farming practices, and streamline the agricultural value chain.
This public-private effort underscores the DA’s commitment to addressing the long-standing challenges of Filipino farmers while fostering a more efficient and equitable agricultural sector, Navarro concluded.
