1,600 cooperatives to benefit from DAR project

MANILA, Philippines - Some 1,600 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) cooperatives will benefit from a project recently launched by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes said the project “DAR-CDA Partnership Program on Strengthening and Capacity Building of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperatives” will run for 15 months. It will provide officers and members of ARB cooperatives nationwide with trainings to enhance their competencies and renew their status as cooperatives of good standing with the CDA as mandated by law.

The DAR and the CDA will 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.

“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,” De los Reyes said.

The DAR chief added that the signing of a memorandum of agreement between DAR and CDA would help develop strong and stable cooperatives.

De los Reyes and CDA Chairman Emmanuel Santiaguel signed the agreement.