DA-10, FCOF ink MOAs for agri digital mktg platform, inclusive rural dev’t

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) and the FICCO Community Outreach Foundation, Inc. (FCOF) signed two Memorandum of Agreement (MOAs) on May 8, one to promote an agricultural digital marketing platform and another to formalize their partnership for inclusive rural development, at the FICCO Main Building, in Brgy. Carmen.

The MOA signing ceremony was led by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan and FCOF Chairperson Elmo C. Bautista, together with Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Chief Wilson V. Lagdamin and other technical staff of the agency.

The first MOA covers the rollout of an online marketplace system designed to link agricultural products to consumers and institutional buyers.

Under the agreement, the DA-10 will provide technical management and system support for the digital marketing platform, including hosting, maintenance, cybersecurity, and system operations, while assigning technical personnel and ensuring platform functionality and coordination with the foundation. Meanwhile, FCOF will provide the domain name to be used for the marketing platform and act as sole operator of the domain name provided for digital marketing platform for commercial purposes.

The second MOA centers on the DA-FCOF’s engagement for inclusive rural development through the promotion of local commodities such as rice, adlay, coconut, bamboo, and other crops, improving the livelihoods of farmers, cooperatives and other development partners, strengthening agricultural value chains, enhancing enterprise development, and expanding market access through coordinated programs and the use of digital tools for planning, monitoring, and reporting.

As committed, the agency will also provide technical guidance and policy support and link programs to government initiatives aligned with national and regional agricultural priorities, while FCOF will lead in community development initiatives, stakeholders engagement, and the operational use of digital tools.

Overall, the undertaking highlights the shared commitment of DA-10 and FCOF to improve agricultural productivity, market linkage, and rural development through strategic collaboration and digital solutions, contributing to the region’s economic and social growth.# (JPC)