#HVCDPNews || Today, the High Value Crops Development Program together with the Regional Implementing Committee had an onboarding meeting with Usec. Jerome V. Oliveros, the Undersecretary for Special Concerns and for Official Development Assistance (ODA)-Foreign Aid/Grants to brief him about the DA X DOJ Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security (RISE) Project.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), tasked with fostering the nation’s agricultural and fishery sector, pledged to collaborate with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), an agency under the Department of Justice (DOJ), to revitalize arable land across seven prison farms in the country.

This strategic partnership aims to utilize BuCor’s extensive idle agricultural lands, bolstering the government’s drive for increased food production for food security. Additionally, it offers an opportunity for the rehabilitation of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), involving them as farm workers to facilitate their reintegration into society.

Moreover, this initiative is poised to engage various stakeholders, including public entities, private sector players, and other DA offices and attach agencies, alongside flagship programs such as the High Value Crops Development Program, the National Rice Program, National Corn Program, National Livestock Program, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Bureau of Animal Industry. 

The meeting centered on updating progress and charting the course ahead for the RISE project, exploring avenues for involvement from larger private companies to enhance their corporate social responsibility efforts, and discussing strategies for scaling up the RISE project effectively.

#DA #HVCDP #MasaganangAgrikultura #MaunladNaEkonomiya #BagongPilipinas