Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Orlando Ravanera sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two government agencies, which aims to strengthen and unite local farmers’ and fisherfolk’s cooperatives in the country. Piñol considers the MOU a milestone in empowering farmers and boosting cooperation towards improved production and increased income. “If we empower our farmers and fisherfolks, they will be free from enslavement from traders and middlemen,” he stressed. Ravanera, for his part, said that the initiative is essential in the ASEAN integration as farmers and fishers will now have one singular voice. Other signatories are Undersecretaries Ranibai Dilangalen and Evelyn Laviña. (Photo by Gian Carlo Luague)