The Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to empower agricultural cooperatives in the Philippines.

The three government agencies signed a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on Wednesday, which will provide a new inter-agency framework to enhance support across all levels of governance for farmers and fishers nationwide.

“This memorandum is more than a policy document; it is a concrete whole-of-government commitment to empower our farmers and fisherfolk through stronger and more sustainable cooperatives,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a news release on Friday.

Under the framework, national agencies, local government units (LGUs), and development partners will improve alignment to advance food security, enterprise development, livelihood generation, and inclusive rural transformation.

“By aligning the efforts of national agencies and local governments, we can build a more responsive and efficient support system that contributes meaningfully to food security and national development,” Tiu Laurel said.

Coordination among concerned agencies will also be strengthened, alongside the utilization of unified and data-driven systems for cooperative development, monitoring, and support services.

It also seeks to reduce duplication and overlaps of government interventions through the creation of a more efficient and inclusive system, enabling cooperatives to grow, innovate, and compete in domestic and international markets.

LGUs are also expected to actively engage in cooperative development through their integration in the municipal and provincial plans, and supporting monitoring and validation efforts.

Overall, the framework seeks to enable farmers and fishers to consolidate resources, improve productivity, expand market access, and build resilient and sustainable community-based enterprises nationwide. (PNA)