Being an agricultural institution, Central Philippines State University (CPSU) highly welcomes programs and projects that promise improved agricultural productivity and employment through income and livelihood opportunities to the farmers in the local community. It also supports activities that aim to promote social equity in terms of food security and alleviation of rural poverty in the countryside.
With the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Negros Occidental 2 also sharing the same mission, the partnership between these two organizations is unfurled. The purpose of the collaboration is to create projects and programs that support the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) that could pave the way for social and economic developments.
In a conference held at the CPSU Main Campus, located in Brgy. Camingawan, Kabankalan City last January 6, 2020, both parties expressed their eagerness to take part in the mutual agreement. Each agency also articulated their prospective programs and projects that will be forged from the said partnership.
Dr. Aladino Moraca, CPSU president, affirmed his fervent support to the project since such collaboration with DAR will pave way for the immediate realization of the University’s goals in line with extending economically viable agricultural technologies that would lead to economic development in the local community and beyond.
“This initiative is a welcome development for the institution especially that CPSU is aiming to become a leading institution in local and global developments in terms of its core functions in research, instruction, extension and production with effective partnerships with other stakeholders,” Dr. Moraca said.
Likewise, Enrique Paderes, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer I, stated that they have identified CPSU as their partner in this pursuit since the University can greatly help in strengthening the agency’s information, education and communication strategies to reach a wider scope of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). This is also instrumental in encouraging other sectors in the community to continue providing support to DAR especially in strengthening the implementation of CARP in the whole region.
With the upcoming opening of CPSU’s own radio station, the Muscovado Sweet FM, the University also committed to help in the efficient information dissemination of DAR’s various support services programs and projects to the entire community.
Part of the proposed projects being eyed in this partnership is the assistance that CPSU will extend in terms of introducing practical, climate-suitable and beneficial farming and agriculture technologies to help increase household income of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Southern Negros Occidental.
Other proposed activities to be expected from this partnership are the formation of ARBs and students’ Agraryo Trainers and Broadcast Guild, Youth CARP Warriors and the conduct of other non-academic activities that are salient and beneficial in inculcating to the young minds of the students the significant role that CARP and agriculture play in the economic stability for rural development.
The two agencies will also collaborate in the drafting and launching of training modules both for ARB and non ARBs such as the Agri-Tekno Komiks, Titulo Dos, and The Southern Echo.
The scheduled date for the official signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between CPSU and DAR is set on the 28th of January this year.
Other persons present during the said event were the OIC- PARPO II Arnulfo Figueroa, Graduate School Dean Dr. Mae Flor Posadas, Director for Development Communication and Information Office Dr. Flora Lingamen-Carpio, Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer Diona Molina and the Provincial Communications Group Layout Artist Chester Keith Cabreros. (Source & Photo Credits: DAR – Neg. Occ 2)
By: J.A. Emoy