ARMM, state college sign MOA for organic food production in Basilan

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A state college and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have signed a memorandum of agreement to provide livelihood, initially to Basilan farming folk, through “organic food” production currently in demand because of its health benefits.

The ARMM, through its HELPS (Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Synergy) program, agreed to bankroll P8.5 million for the business venture of producing organically grown fish, vegetables and farm animals with its partner the Aces Polytechnic College of Basilan. The two institutions signed the MOA last Saturday.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, impressed by the organic food samples produced by the Basilan farming and fishing cooperatives, said, “They are not only nutritious but certified organic food that most people nowadays prefer.”

Dr. Francisco Dela Peña, APCB president, who signed the MOA with Hataman, has assured the products are 100 percent free of preservatives, anti-biotic ingredients, synthetic additives, and growth hormones.

Dela Peña said that with the ARMM-HELPS financial assistance, a business boom in halal food could happen.

Using Barangay Balas in Lamitan City as pilot site for the ARMM-HELPS-assisted project, Hataman said another P8.5 million has been earmarked for the construction of an organic feed mill processing plant and other facilities.

A three-hectare model farm might produce enough organic fish, poultry products, goat and other farm animals, said Anwar Upahm, ARMM-HELPS program manager.

Hataman vowed to spread the HELPS initiative to other ARMM provinces, saying some 100 different villages in the region would likely avail of it by 2015.