DAR, CDA forge pact on farmers services

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) forged a landmark agreement on Dec. 13 (Thursday) that seeks to improve the delivery of much-needed support service to farmers’ cooperatives.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Gil de los Reyes and CDA Chairman Emmanuel M. Santiaguel signed the memorandum of agreement that would further strengthen “the DAR-CDA Partnership Program on Strengthening and Capacity Building of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) Cooperatives.”

DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Jerry Pacturan and CDA-Northern Mindanao regional director Orlando Ravanera witnessed the signing.

The project will run for 15 months, enough to provide officers and members of some 1,600 ARB cooperatives all over the country with trainings that would help enhance their competencies and renew their status as cooperatives of good standing with the CDA as mandated by law to promote the viability of their growth as instruments for equity, social justice and economic development.

The DAR and the CDA will also provide technical assistance to newly organized cooperatives to help them prepare the documents required to register with the CDA, which assists cooperatives improve their operations and preserve and build up their capital.

De los Reyes said the project is in line with the DAR’s continuing efforts to implement programs and provide services that will improve the quality of lives of farmer beneficiaries.

“This project is in response to the clamor of ARB cooperatives for government to assist them in their re-registration, a critical starting point for their farm business engagements. Moreover, as partners between agencies and grassroots organizations, this project is also an innovation on convergence initiatives,” Delos Reyes said.

The DAR chief added that the signing of the agreement would help develop strong and stable cooperatives to harness economic and social opportunities and help them cope up with the challenges.

“By doing so, they will be able to better serve their members and contribute to improving the quality of life of our ARBs, their households and rural women,” Delos Reyes explained.

The agreement is the latest in a series of programs introduced under the Aquino administration that are designed to help agrarian reform beneficiaries all over the country.