A Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office
(DARPO) of Cagayan, represented by PARO Virgilio M. Acasili and the Cagayan State University (CSU), represented by Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, University President
was signed on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the CSU-Andrews Campus, Caritan, Tuguegarao
City in the presence of Dr. Dominador O. Tamayao, Vice President for Research
and Extension, Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson, DAR Regional Director, Mr.
Elpidio Urbanozo, Chief, Beneficiaries Development and Coordination Division,
and Mr. Aldwin Addun, Human Development Specialist.
Under such MOA,
the DAR and CSU undertake to pursue and implement the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) wherein CSU shall conduct
the Organizational Enterprise-Needs Assessment and Design Assessment (OE-NADA) which is a major component of
ARCCESS project implementation.
The ARCCESS
project is a government-led initiative to tap intersectoral (Public-social-private)
partnership to increase farm productivity, improve household incomes of
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) by providing livelihood through the
organization of agricultural enterprises managed by ARBs.
ARCCESS
also aims to teach farmers agri-business technologies to help them establish
farm enterprises and gain access to credit, better markets and participate in
economies of scale. Another important goal of the ARCCESS program is to
enhance organizational management, i.e., strengthen farmers’ organizations
where a lot of Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries (ARBs) are members.
Target
beneficiaries under this activity are five (5) Agrarian Reform Communities
(ARCs) in Cagayan province, namely: MADUVICA ARC in Sta. Ana, SUNRISE ARC in
Gattaran, SABUNG ARC in Tuao, MADUVILLA ARC in Piat; and MALAUEG ARC in
Rizal.
Under the MOA,
the CSU shall undertake the Needs Assessment as a systematic approach to
identify the nature and scope of the problem being addressed and the reasons that
are causing the problems, to identify the target population to be served, and
to determine the services needed to meet the problem/s.
The CSU shall
also conduct a Design Assessment to model the theory behind the ARCCESS Project
and present a plan for improving the social condition of the target
organization/community. The activity intends to improve the capacity of the
ARBs in organizing and managing agri-enterprises.
A Final Report
shall be submitted by CSU to DAR, wherein such report shall be considered in
determining the types of intervention available and suitable for the ARB
organization/community under the ARCCESS project, such as provision of common
services facilities (CSF), e.g., water
pumps, tractors, threshers, harvesters, dryers, etc., and/or
business development services, etc. /cds
