DAVAO REGION, August 18, 2023 – Being the primary project carriers, and community organizing actors on the ground, 21 staff of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 in Davao Region underwent training on organizational management to properly guide farmers associations (FAs) on their SAAD journey.

To equip its team from the regional and provincial support offices with essential skills on organizational management, the staff took the training on leadership, bookkeeping, and cultural sensitivity last July 24 to 27, 2023. The learnings will be applied to the farmers associations (FAs) assigned to the development workers.

As the Program intensified its thrust to impart practical skills among FAs to create community-based enterprises (CBEs) within its timeline of Phase 2 operation, said training will help the implementers prioritize and manage time and resources effectively.

“I-capacitate jud nato atoang mga tao kay para mas masabtan nila ilahang role. Kani para jud ni sa atoang mga CDOs pero ma-apply ni sa tanan.  Kinahanglan nato ni sa implementasyon sa atoang programa kay para mapakusgan ang atong mga mag-uuma,” Naomi Lamata, SAAD Davao Region Alternate Assistant Focal Person, said. 

(We capacitate our personnel so that they will understand their role. This [training] is especially catered to our CDOs [community development officers], but its application is for all of us. We need this in our implementation so that we can empower our farmers.) 

Leadership, bookkeeping, cultural sensitivity

For cultural sensitivity, the Program invited Ms. Lyn Balanza, a community affairs officer from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to lead the discussion. The program deemed it critical for its CDOs to know the mechanics of properly dealing with IPs since most of the FA’s members belong to these marginalized groups. 

Fundamentals in Leadership and Organizational Development was also a topic of discussion, with personnel encouraged to imbibe the importance of building strong foundations within a people’s organization. Former Senior Cooperative Specialist from the Provincial Agriculturist Office of Davao de Oro Feliciano Crucio and current officer-in-charge of the Cooperative Development Division Marilou Lanoy led the discussions. 

Practical applications of simple bookkeeping for FAs was spearheaded by Agricultural Training Institute’s James Philip Saludares.

“Kinahanglan well-informed jud ta, labi na sa ground, kabalo sila mag-adjust. Mao jud na siya kinahanglan nato. Aside ana, in terms of financial literacy sila na mag-train sa ilahang FA. Importante ni kay para matutukan nila ang ilahang mga FA,” McKevin Mosquesa, SAAD Davao Region’s lead CDO III, emphasized.

(We need to be well-informed, especially on-ground, we should know how to adjust. That’s what we truly need. Aside from that, our CDOs should know how to train our FAs with financial literacy. These training sessions are all imperative in order for us to really focus on our FAs.)

In the next quarter, SAAD Davao Region will roll out the bulk of its 2023 livelihood projects. The regional management deemed it imperative for implementers on-ground to be well-equipped for the projects to prosper. ###

Writer: James Brian R. Flaga, SAAD RPMSO 11 Information Officer
Photos: Ronell B. Tangonan, SAAD RPMSO 11 Information Officer
Source: DA-SAAD Davao de Oro