By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to source out agricultural products from agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as regular food requirements for inmates in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales amid the coronavirus pandemic. DAR and BJMP on Friday conducted a virtual signing of agreement under the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program (EPAHPP). Under the program, government institutions converge to support poor people in the countryside, which also includes feeding programs for school and severely malnourished individuals and provision of community affordable meals for workers and laborers. "This is the very first virtual signing of a marketing agreement, where the DAR enables our ARBs to provide the BJMP with a steady supply of food items, such as rice, vegetables, root crops, and other farm produce, while the farmers gain regular markets for their farm yields," DAR Undersecretary for support service Emily Padilla said. Aside from BJMP and DAR, other government institutions providing services in support of the administration’s advocacy includes the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Interior and Local Government. The virtual signing of marketing agreement was led by DAR Secretary John Castriciones with other DAR officials signing in Clarkfield, Pampanga, agrarian reform beneficiary organizations of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Zambales located in the respective DAR provincial offices, BJMP Central Luzon wardens in their provincial offices and Cabinet Secretary and EPAHPP Committee Chairman Karlo Nograles. Castriciones lauded this partnership as, according to him, it would boost the economic lives of the ARBs in the three provinces. "With the farmers having a steady market to directly supply their farm produce, there is no need for them to negotiate with middlemen, who usually dictate low prices for their commodities, thus, farmers will also earn more," Castriciones said. "EPAHPP is our government’s initiative to eradicate hunger by 2030. But it is more than just hunger mitigation as our agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) will eventually become established channels for food supply, hence, they will play a vital role in ensuring food security in the country," Castriciones said.