THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-South has strengthened its collaboration with the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) to boost the implementation of agrarian reform programs and projects in the province this year.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I Enrique Paderes, in a meeting with the school officials at CPSU-Kabankalan Campus on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, said both institutions have laid down their respective projects and programs to be undertaken through the collaboration.
Paderes said they have decided to team up with the CPSU in order, for one, to strengthen the agency's information, education and communication strategies to reach a wider scope of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
"Also, to encourage various sectors to continue giving their support in order for us to improve the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) in Negros Occidental," he added.
As part of the communication plan of DAR-Negros Occidental II, a regular radio program dubbed "Radyo Agraryo" will soon be aired through the CPSU's Radyo Muscovado.
"Our Radyo Agraryo will feature various support services and programs of the agency, which are all designed to uplift the lives of our farmer-beneficiaries and their respective organizations," Paderes also said.
The radio program is also seen to help the agency boost its public rapport by giving the public easy and faster access to the "whats and hows" of the agrarian reform program.
Other proposed collaborations include the formation of ARBs and Students' Agraryo Trainers and Broadcasters Guild, Youth Carp Warriors, the conduct of non-academic activities that will help instill in the minds of students and youths the importance of agrarian reform and agriculture, among others.
The DAR and CPSU will also partner for the drafting and launching of the training modules both for ARBs and non-ARBs such as Agri-Tekno Komiks, Titulo Dos and The Southern Echo.
For the CPSU, its president, Dr. Aladino Moraca, has lauded the partnership, which he considered as one of the great breakthroughs for both government institutions working for the best interest of the public.
"This initiative is a welcome development for the institution especially that the CPSU is aiming to become a leading institution in local and global development through instruction, research, extension and production with effective partnerships among other stakeholders," he noted.
For his part, Officer-In-Charge Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Arnulfo Figueroa has thanked CPSU-Kabankalan for always supporting the DAR through strong collaborations.
Figueroa said this partnership is important in ensuring an effective and efficient Carp implementation.
"I am personally thanking the CPSU under the strong leadership of president Moraca for always believing in the DAR and for opening its door for various collaborations that would surely help our agrarian reform communities and future agriculture champions," he added.
DAR-Negros Occidental II said a set of training is already lined up to materialize all the plans under the partnership with the university.
The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the two institutions is tentatively scheduled for January 27.
Meanwhile, also present during the conference were CPSU Graduate School Program Dean Dr. Mae Flor Posadas, Director of Development Communication and Information Office Dr. Flora Lingamen Carpio, DAR-Negros Occidental II Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer Diona Molina and Chester Keith Cabreros representing the Provincial Communications Group.