THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) have committed to help enterprising farmers’ cooperatives excel in their business undertakings by giving them pointers on how to run their day-to-day activities.
DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Jerry Pacturan said he is happy that the civil society is equipping our farmer-beneficiaries the much-needed technical support, knowledge and skills that are vital in raising their level of competence and maturity in managing their own businesses.
“Actually, working with the civil society organizations is part of President Noynoy Aquino’s marching order for us to deliver the much-needed support services the department cannot do on its own,” he said shortly after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between DAR and the PBSP.
Under the memorandum of understanding, PBSP executive director Rafael Lopa said that his group shall be responsible for the delivery of business advisory services and monitoring of the progress of selected farmers’ organizations.
Lopa said he is hopeful that the PBSP could contribute something to the welfare of farmer-beneficiaries. He disclosed that his group is maintaining a pool of volunteer business advisers under its “Business Advisory Program (BAP)” to guide farmer-beneficiares on how to go about with their daily transactions.
“The BAP helps micro and small enterprises improve and grow their business through the delivery of business advisory services,” Lopa said.
For its part, the DAR shall be responsible in picking the qualified farmers’ groups and assist PBSP in the implementation of the program.
Pacturan said the PBSP’s gesture is very timely since many farmers’ organizations have graduated from being mere producers of raw farm products and now need managerial know-how to sustain their businesses. -30- PAS, DAR
