TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), formerly known as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), has signed a memorandum of agreement with key stakeholders to roll out the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM) program in Eastern Visayas.
The agreement was signed in partnership with the Office of the House Speaker, Tingog Party-list secretary general Luningning Lariosa, Visayas State University, various regional line agencies, local government units (LGUs), and leaders of irrigators’ associations.
The FARM program seeks to strengthen food supply security by boosting rice production, lowering rice prices, and supporting the social and economic transformation of rice-farming communities.
Under the agreement, the government will provide farmers with standardized support packages, organize barangay-based farm worker groups, implement capacity-building activities, improve market linkages, streamline distribution channels, and establish a responsive monitoring and evaluation system.
These initiatives aim to make rice more affordable and ensure farmers have better access to production support.
Pilot implementation of the FARM program will begin in the top rice-producing municipalities of Leyte’s first district: Palo, Sta. Fe, Alangalang, and San Miguel.
If successful, the program will be expanded to other areas in the region to benefit more farming communities.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
