Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi signs the tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Palamigan ng Bayan with Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade and Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar at the DOE headquarters in Bonifacio Global City this afternoon (March 12). 

The agreement, among others, provides accessible cold storage facilities to farmers and fisherfolk nationwide so that farm-fresh produce like vegetables, meat and poultry, as well as fish and seafood are safely and properly stored. This way, they can be better transported and last longer as they are distributed to the areas where such commodities are either scarce or are very expensive.

“The DOE is privileged to partner with the DOTr and DA to help our farmers, fisherfolks and their families in this very difficult period in our country. We will do our best to help them in any way we can, and hopefully, the Palamigan ng Bayan will further make a difference,” Secretary Cusi said.

TAGUIG CITY– The Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Agriculture (DA) today signed a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to further strengthen the “Palamigan ng Bayan” program, and mitigate the rising prices of agricultural commodities in Metro Manila and Luzon. 

The agreement provides accessible cold storage facilities to farmers and fisherfolks nationwide so that farm-fresh produce like vegetables, meat and poultry, as well as fish and seafood are safely and properly stored. This would help ensure that said products last longer before they are transported especially to those areas where such commodities are either scarce or are very expensive. 

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who started the “Palamigan ng Bayan” program in 2018 hopes that this time, the project will reach more farmers and fisherfolk to help provide them a steady livelihood during this challenging period. 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOTr was still able to deploy 11 reefer container vans last year in various municipalities and cities nationwide, which helped boost the government's response against the crippling economic impact of the global health crisis. 

“The DOE is privileged to partner with the DOTr and DA to help our farmers, fisherfolk and their families in this very difficult period in our country. We will do our best to help them in any way we can, and hopefully, the Palamigan ng Bayan will further make a difference,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

The Energy chief added that the "Palamigan ng Bayan" further illustrates the Water-Energy-Food nexus and how this interrelationship is crucial to the country's recovery and long-term sustainable development. 

Secretary Cusi signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) together with Secretary Tugade and Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar at the DOE headquarters in Bonifacio Global City.

Secretary Alfonso Cusi expressed hope that this project will bring about better facilities and maximize the use of technology and innovation to better prepare our agricultural sector to the new normal as the demand for food and prime commodities grows. 

He adds that technology will help “make our farmers better equipped to see to it that their hard work is paid with the commensurate amount of money that they have invested in it, without being abused by middlemen and unscrupulous traders.” 

The DA, meanwhile, sees this tripartite project as an opportunity to mitigate the contraction of supply in Metro Manila, while providing new markets for products from Mindanao, Visayas, and the other neglected producers and products from rural communities. 

“This pandemic has truly brought out the best in everyone,” adds Secretary William Dar, who states that farmers from as far as Benguet and Bukidnon now have ready access to markets in Luzon. 

Under the MOA, the DOE, DOTr, and DA will work closely to attain the following objectives:
  
•Strengthen and/or expand the implementation of the existing “Palamigan ng Bayan” program for the agri-fishery sector in all feasible sites all over the country; 

• Promote the use of refrigerated container vans as cold storage to store fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and meat products and other perishable goods and supplies to address concerns on food quality and productivity;

• Formulate policies and establish standard operating procedures to have a coherent coordination mechanism among all parties;

• Ensure stability of price and steady and affordable supply of agri-fishery products in support of the food resiliency program of the DA;

• Develop new and emerging technologies for the agri-fishery sector in collaboration with research and development institutions (RDIs), state colleges and universities and the private sector; and

• Provide technical and other support services to local farmers and fisherfolks and encourage the continuing technology innovation through public private partnerships, joint venture arrangements, technology business incubation, contract research, management contract and other relevant and related legal instruments. 

For its part, the DOE is expected to: 

• Provide assistance in ensuring energy access needed for the operation of the refrigerated container vans;

• Mobilize all concerned distribution utilities in the country to ensure continuous electricity service for the refrigerated container vans situated within its franchise area;
 
• Identify viable techno-economic options that shall deliver efficient, adequate, reliable and resilient electricity service for the cold storage facility/equipment, at a reasonable cost;

• Identify the sources of funds to implement said option;

• Engage the concerned Distribution Utilities to cold storage facilities connected to its distribution facilities within its franchise area;

• Integrate the use of cost efficient power among the available grid or off-grid technologies to implement the project; and

• Provide technical expertise in the development of project plan for a fully automated cold storage facility project.

Secretary Cusi remains optimistic that rural development will get a major boost from this program. 

He adds: “This is a testament to the whole of government approach, where the administration is determined to make sure that no Filipino will go hungry, and progress will reach not just the urban areas, but more so, the countryside as part of the President’s 10-point socio-economic agenda.”

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