Department of Agriculture expands Partnership with Ayala Corp.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture has expanded its corporate farming project with conglomerate Ayala Corp., this time linking local farmers’ vegetable produce with institutional buyers.

To revive the agriculture industry in El Nido in Palawan, DA-Mimaropa and Ayala Foundation Inc. will link local farmers’ associations with institutional buyers and address difficulties in marketing and selling their produce.

The Asosasyon ng mga Mangingisda at Magsasaka ng Munisipyo ng El Nido Palawan Inc. was linked with the Ayala Group to buy their fresh assorted vegetables including ampalaya, squash, okra, eggplant and string beans, among others.

The Ayala Multipurpose Cooperative also provided additional support through lending P250,000, payable within two years with a one percent interest per annum.

The association was given the full responsibility to handle the El Nido Food Terminal, a project of the DA in partnership with the local government unit established in 2013.

The project is also in line with the Ayala Group’s commitment to support the growth of agriculture in the country and help uplift the lives of farmers.

Last year, the Ayala Group also entered into an agreement with farmers in Narra in Palawan also for the supply of rice for its high-end El Nido Resorts in Lagen and Miniloc Islands.

The corporate farming program is the national government’s way of connecting rice farmers across the country to institutional buyers.

Ayala was the first company to pledge its support to this initiative when Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol met with Ayala chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Ayala Foundation president Ruel Maranan to discuss how the Ayala Group could help improve farmers’ livelihood.

The company is upbeat that the pilot program will attract more partners in various industries and strengthen the collaboration between government and the private sector to ensure sustainable progress and national development.