The
IT-eASy (ITEMA) is a digitalized monitoring and evaluation tool developed by
DAR to determine the readiness and maturity level of ARBOs in managing
agribusiness enterprises. It measures five key areas-Governance, Organizational
Management, Resource Management, Enterprise Development, and Financial
Performance - to classify cooperatives into five maturity levels, from Level 1
(Emerging) to Level 5 (Sustaining).
16
ARBOs Achieve Maturity Level 5
Out
of the 90 ARBOs assessed in Cagayan, 16 organizations reached the highest
Maturity Level 5, signifying strong institutional stability, operational
excellence, and sustainable enterprise performance.
Leading
the list is the Nararagan Valley Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Ballesteros), which
topped the province with a score of 73 points. Other high-performing ARBOs
include:
*Villarey
ARB Cooperative (Piat) – 70.3
*Concepcion
Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Amulung) – 70.1
*Payagan
Farmers Cooperative (Ballesteros) – 70
*Sunrise
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Gattaran) – 67.5
*Maguing
Farmers MPC (Gonzaga) – 66.3
*Calayan
Samahang Nayon MPC (Gonzaga) – 66.2
*Cabayabasan
Farmers Credit Cooperative (Lal-lo) – 65.5
and several others that showed exceptional
enterprise management.
22
ARBOs at Level 4, 34 at Level 3
Meanwhile,
22 ARBOs were classified under Maturity Level 4, demonstrating consistent
growth but still requiring further development in governance and enterprise
scaling. 34 ARBOs landed at Level 3, indicating progressing organizations that
are in the consolidation phase of enterprise management.
Emerging ARBOs: Levels 1 and 2
A
total of 18 ARBOs fell under Levels 1 and 2, representing emerging and
developing organizations that need strengthened capacity building, financial
literacy, and market linkage interventions. DARPO-Cagayan will provide focused
technical assistance and organizational strengthening programs to help these
cooperatives improve their performance and sustainability.
Strengthening
Agrarian Reform Enterprise Development
DARPO-Cagayan
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Val M. Cristobal emphasized that
the ITEMA results are vital in planning future interventions for ARBOs under
the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program
(ARBDSP).
“The IT-eASy assessment allows us to identify where our ARBOs stand in terms of governance, operations, and business viability. It helps us design the right support packages—whether capacity building, market linkages, or enterprise financing,” PARPO II Cristobal said.
The
DAR’s ITEMA initiative supports the national goal of empowering agrarian reform
beneficiaries toward self-reliant, business-oriented, and resilient
cooperatives capable of sustaining rural livelihoods and contributing to local
economic development.
