In line with the President’s mission to provide available and affordable quality food, the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with Department of National Defense (DND), launched a marketing strategy which aims to provide sustainable livelihood and income opportunities for the wounded Filipino soldiers.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, launched on November 7, 2017 the “Karne, Isda Supply Suporta sa Masa at Ekonomiya” or KISS ME project at the Philippine Navy Officers’ Club at Bonifacio Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The ceremony was also attended by chair of Senate committee for Agriculture and Food Senator Cynthia A. Villar, DA, DND officials and families of soldiers.
During the launching ceremony, five soldiers wounded during the Marawi siege were awarded freezer units donated by Sanden Philippines, a Japanese-owned company that specializes in cold chain system.
They were: CPL Renato Eucogco (Philippine Army), PFC Clinton P. Bilan (Philippine Army), CPL Jeffrey L. Panesa (Philippine Marine), CPL Rudybal B. Bambico (Philippine Marine) and S1UO Herbert Ryan L. Briz (Philippine Navy), who were also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu Kampilan medal.
In his message, Duterte announced that the government has allotted P500-million in funds for the hospitalization and housing project of soldiers affected by Marawi’s siege.
“There is still life after what happened. The government will not leave you,” he said.
Piñol explained that the KISS ME project, which is a complementation of the TienDA marketing stratefy, aims to eliminate multiple layers of middlemen by providing food producers direct and steady markets for their produce.
“Good income is the best motivation for farmers to produce more,” Piñol said.
The agri chief stressed that the initiatives of the government such as providing modern technology, easy financing credit facilities and marketing assistance will be useless if traders continue to exploit and undermine farmers.
The KISS ME project will be implemented in three phases:
Phase I – launching of the project, which include the provision of chillers, freezers, refrigerated vans, and cold storage facilities where fresh chicken, pork, beef, and fish will be displayed.
Phase II – duplication in other commissary outlets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and the Philippine National Police. This will ensure that more soldiers and policeman will have access to affordable farm products.
DA will also facilitate the market linkage between suppliers of fresh meat and fish in various ports and slaughterhouses, and the disabled soldiers who will manage the stores. This includes necessary trainings for the beneficiaries to help them in managing their small business.
Phase III – implementation of KISS ME in housing subdivisions and population centers through the neighborhood sari-sari stores. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
