DILIMAN, Quezon City — Aiming for a broader spectrum in providing much needed assistance to our distressed farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has forged a public-private partnership (PPP) with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) to help the agricultural sector bounce back to its vibrancy and productivity.

In a statement, the food manufacturing unit of San Miguel Corp. announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the DA to “improve Filipino farmers’ incomes, boost food security and bring quality food to more Filipinos.”

The DA-SMC partnership aims to initiate efforts to link farmers to buyers while at the same time improving supply chains and providing consumers better access to agriculture products.

Under the PPP, both parties are set to put up buying stations for key crops like corn, cassava, sorghum and soy beans with the important goal of bridging local farmers to institutional buyers to ensure fair market for prime farm produce.

According to SMC president and chair Ramon Ang, their partnership with the DA will pave the way for them to “invest directly in our farmers and the future of Philippine agriculture.”

“By offering fair prices and consistent support, we help farmers improve their livelihoods and make agriculture a more sustainable and rewarding industry,” Ang pointed out.

"We are also crafting strategies to modernize and streamline agricultural supply chains across the archipelago as a way to keep the food staples available in the market," he added to conclude.