In a significant move for the agricultural sector, a national peasant group in the Philippines has welcomed the government's Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) aimed at enhancing support for farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural cooperatives. Signed on May 22, the JMC is a collaborative effort between the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to streamline government interventions and reduce duplication of services. Danny Carranza, secretary general of Kilusan Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan, expressed optimism about the initiative, noting that it could improve access to government programs that have historically been fragmented and inconsistent. However, he stressed the importance of translating this agreement into tangible support on the ground, including production assistance and market access. Carranza pointed out that many coconut farmers struggle with organization and navigating existing government programs, which are complicated by a lack of extension workers in remote areas. He urged for stronger inter-agency coordination to expedite service delivery and reduce political favoritism in agricultural assistance, emphasizing that true food sovereignty relies on justice for those who produce food.