BENGUET IRRIGATORS SUSTAIN FOOD SUPPLY TO BAGUIO, BENGUET JAILS

October 15, 2022 Provincial

Abundant supply of vegetable and fruits to jail facilities in Baguio City and Benguet will be sustained following the renewal of marketing agreement between the Benguet Farmers Federation of Irrigators’
Association (BFFIA) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) -Cordillera. Eight BJMP jails represented by their wardens signed the agreement with the BFFIA-Baguio City Jail-male and female dorms, Buguias District Jail, Itogon Municipal Jail, La Trinidad District Jailmale and female dorms, La
Trinidad Municipal Jail, and Tuba Municipal Jail.

Engr. Godofredo Velaque, NIA-Benguet Provincial Head, and JCInsp. April Rose Ayangwa, EPAHP Focal Person of BJMP-CAR witnessed the contract signing was held at the National Irrigation Administration Cordillera Farmers Training Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet recently. “I would like to extend my
heartfelt gratitude for making BJMP-CAR one of the mediums in expanding the markets of our beneficiaries [farmers] in exchange of guaranteed fresh products which will be beneficial also to our persons deprived of liberty at a reasonable price… BJMP-CAR, through our jail wardens, in the Province of Benguet and the City of Baguio,” said JSSupt Roland Lee Ng Cael, DSC Regional Director of the BJMPCAR whose remarks was delivered by JCInsp April Rose Ayangwa, Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Focal Person, based on NIA-CAR release.

According to Ayangwa, the budget for the vegetables shall come from the prisoner’s subsistence allowance which is set at P70 per PDL per day. The vegetables/fruits procured from the farmers’ group shall be utilized for the meal requirements of the persons deprived of liberty (PDL). “Agyaman kami iti tulong yu nga mangidispose ti mula mi. Dakkel nga tulong daytoy kanyami nga farmers, ken kanyami nga farmers matulungan tayo dagiti kakadwa dita baludan,” [We thank you for your assistance in helping us market our
produce.

This is a big help to us farmers, and we can also be of help to our brothers and sisters at the jails.] said Domingo Awas, president of the Benguet Farmers Federation of Irrigators’ Associations (BFFIA) based on the NIA-CAR press statement. Started in 2021, the agreement is in line with the EPAHP program of the national government-to address hunger, ensure food and nutrition security, and reduce poverty in the urban and rural communities.

Primo Agatep/ABN