The Cabaleng San Isidro Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (CASIFA Coop), a pilot farmer group assisted by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Cagayan Valley, is set to become the official supplier of fresh produce for the municipality’s Supplementary Feeding Program for children enrolled in various Child Development Centers.
This development follows the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on July 22, 2025, between CASIFA Chairman Gilbert Respicio and Santa Praxedes Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) initiative.
Under the agreement, CASIFA is set to provide vegetables, meat, and fruits for meals prepared at various Child Development Centers in the municipality. Deliveries are scheduled every Monday, with monthly payment arrangements, and will continue until December, this year.
Chairman Respicio expressed gratitude to the LGU for endorsing the cooperative, which enabled the partnership with DSWD.
“Dakkel ti yamanmi ta dakami ti napili babaen ti endorsement ti LGU. Daytoy a partnership ket dakkel a tulong ta mapadpadasanmi ti agtultuloy a panagmula ken saankami a maproblema ti panagilako. Napateg daytoy kadakami ken kadagiti pamilya mi,” he said.
(We are deeply grateful for being chosen through the LGU’s endorsement. This partnership is a big help as it gives us the confidence to continue planting without worrying about how to market our produce.)
In case of supply shortages, CASIFA will coordinate with fellow farmer groups also supported by DA-SAAD such as the Gunglo Dagiti Mannalon ti Portugal (GUMAPO) and Grupo Dana Yapayao nga Agkagkago (GYDA).
The majority of the vegetables to be supplied which includes siling panigang, eggplant, okra, squash, and mushrooms are cultivated with support from the SAAD Program.
Further, DSWD thoroughly assessed CASIFA’s capacity and eligibility prior to the agreement, ensuring it complied with all necessary documentation including a valid business permit and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) registration.
Santa Praxedes Area Coordinator Sherryl Arnedo praised the initiative, stressing that this collaboration empowers local farmers while addressing child nutrition. She also encouraged CASIFA members to expand their production areas to maintain consistent supply, while continuing participation in KADIWA events to connect directly with consumers.
The DA-SAAD Program in Cagayan Valley expressed full support for the partnership, emphasizing that this milestone reflects the growing success of government efforts in transforming the lives of marginalized farmers.###
