In line with its continuing mission to combat hunger and poverty through collaborative and inclusive efforts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program, successfully conducted a Kumustahan Session on July 24, 2025, at the Training Hall of the PhilRice Agusan Experiment Station.
This day-long engagement served as a meaningful platform for dialogue and collaboration between supply and demand partners under the EPAHP program. Attended by the Federation of Cabadbaran Irrigators and Farmers Association Inc. (FeCIFAI) and five active demand partners—Princity Incorporated Cabadbaran Branch, Bayabas Grains SLPA, Calamba Farmers RiceBIZ SLPA, Bukidbukid Farmers SLPA, and the National Food Authority Agusan del Sur—the session provided an avenue to revisit partnership progress, identify challenges, and reinforce market linkages.
Additional participants included Kasilac Talo-ao Irrigators’ Association Inc., Princity Incorporated Buenavista Branch, and the Avanceña Beneficiaries and Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ABFMPC), reflecting the program’s commitment to inclusive and expanding engagement.
The Kumustahan Session was made possible through the collaboration and support of partner agencies such as PhilRice, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Local Government Unit of Cabadbaran City. These agencies play vital roles in bridging community-based organizations (CBOs) with institutional markets, thereby enhancing the economic sustainability of small-scale farmers and producers.
The term Kumustahan, a Filipino cultural practice of checking in on one another, is more than just a casual catch-up. Within the EPAHP context, it plays a critical role in sustaining relationships, ensuring continuous feedback, and strengthening coordination among stakeholders.
Through efforts such as this, DSWD Caraga & EPAHP continues to uphold its commitment to empower grassroots organizations, foster inter-agency collaboration, and build resilient partnerships toward its comprehensive goal of reducing hunger and poverty in the region.
