The DA-BAR signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Zero Kilometer (Zero KM) Project with the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) on 19 June 2023, as part of the Department of Agriculture’s commitment towards a food-secure nation.
In his message, DA-BAR director Junel B. Soriano expressed his full support for the project.
“As the R4D arm of the department, the DA-BAR commits to providing its services to initiatives, such as the Zero Kilometer project, that responds to the call of the needs of the agriculture sector,” said director Soriano.
The Zero KM project holds significant promise in enhancing food security, supporting local farmers, and preserving the environment. By encouraging the consumption of locally grown produce and minimizing transportation distances (hence the concept of food traveling “zero kilometer” before being consumed), the project strives to create a sustainable and healthier nation. The collaborative efforts of various government agencies and local officials in Hermosa and Dinalupihan, Bataan demonstrate a unified commitment to achieving these goals.
Under the agreement, DA-BAR will provide funding for the research that will examine the factors influencing supply and demand in the two municipalities, including commodity prices and expenditure movements by identifying the major stakeholders in the market economy and analyzing consumer behavior.
Earlier that month, a joint ceremonial signing of the MOA for the Zero KM Project was held at the Office of the Secretary, DA Central Office. During the ceremonial signing, DA senior undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban underscored the initiative’s importance as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to establish a food-secure nation.