The Benguet Farmers Federation of Irrigators’ Association (BFFIA) will continue to supply vegetables and fruits to the jails in Baguio City and Benguet after it renewed its marketing agreement with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-CAR at the NIA Cordillera Farmers Training Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet on Oct. 7.
Eight BJMP jails represented by its respective wardens signed the agreement with the BFFIA Baguio City Jail male and female dorms, Buguias District Jail, Itogon Municipal Jail, La Trinidad District Jail male and female dorms, La Trinidad Municipal Jail, and Tuba Municipal Jail.
“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 for guaranteed fresh products, which will be beneficial also to persons deprived of liberty at a reasonable price. The BJMP-CAR, through our jail wardens in Benguet and Baguio, will work with you in ways that we could be of assistance,” said BJMP Regional Director JS/Supt. Roland Lee Ng Cael as delivered by JC/Insp. April Rose Ayangwa.
The vegetables and fruits procured from the farmers’ group will be used for the meal requirements of persons deprived of liberty.
Ayangwa said the budget for the vegetables shall come from the prisoner’s subsistence allowance which is set at P70 per person per day.
BFFIA president Domingo Awas thanked the BJMP for continuing to directly purchase from the group’s members.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by NIA Benguet head Godofredo Velaque and Ayangwa. Started in 2021, the agreement is in line with the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty program of the national government with the goal to mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security, and reduce poverty in urban and rural communities. – Press release
