CALABARZON, November 22, 2023 –  To promote the importance of forming a farmer group and strengthen unity among farmers, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) CALABARZON has conducted Community Organizing, Values Formation, and Leadership Training for 418 farmers in Tingloy.

DA SAAD CALABARZON Operations, Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit Head, Girsky V. Anda facilitated the training from August 7- 31, 2023. A total of 10 communities have completed community organizing training, with a weekly schedule accommodating two to three groups. During the training, he emphasized the importance of collective action in community development by drawing a comparison to a broom. 

“Kapag solo lang siya o isang tingting, hindi siya uunlad. Pero kapag sila ay isang bungkos ng walis tingting o association mas mabilis silang uunlad kasi nagtutulungan sila,” Mr. Anda mentioned. 

(If he’s an individual or a single straw, he won’t make much progress. But when they work as a bundle of broomsticks or as an association, progress will be more efficient because they support each other.)

Community organizing aims to solve the lack of a registered Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) in the area by encouraging the farmers to form their own group and strengthening members’ unity to achieve organization cohesiveness in furthering their livelihoods and living conditions.

During the training, participants engaged in an activity to emphasize the significance of regular check-ins within the community by asking kumusta ka? (How are you?). The session also included a discussion on the role of community organization and the importance of collaboration among farmers to overcome challenges and enhance agricultural practices. This aimed to help farmers significance of their community in enhancing agricultural practices, accessing valuable resources, and resolving communal issues.

Majority of the participants then shared their aspirations for personal development and improved livelihoods and emphasized the importance of providing better education, housing and higher income for their families.

For Mr. Leodegario M. Cruzat, farmer from Brgy. San Pedro, Tingloy, Batangas, he sees the advancement of their livestock venture as an opportunity to have additional income  that will support the needs of their family. 

“Sana madagdagan ang aming kambing panghanapbuhay at ito ay umunlad para mapagtapos ang aming mga anak sa pag-aaral” (I hope there will be additional goats for production and may this prosper so that we can support our children’s education), Mr. Cruzat shared. 

Participants were introduced to the significance of shared values in building stronger community bonds and healthier relationships among members. Also, the training emphasized the pivotal role of leaders in advocating for the community’s needs. The 418 farmers participants of the training are also the intended beneficiaries of upcoming livelihood projects in 2024. SAAD CALABARZON’s objective for the following year is to implement interventions focusing on improving the production of goats, native chicken, and tissue culture bananas to directly benefit these farmers.

SAAD CALABARZON is committed in guiding each community for the registration of their own FCA under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with completion anticipated before the year ends. Training sessions on parliamentary procedures, designed as a guide for farmers to conduct organized meetings and facilitate decision-making, will be conducted in the last quarter of 2023. These initiatives, alongside financial literacy workshops, aim to ensure the effective operation of the formed organization.

Writer: Pamela Faith M. Garcia, SAAD CALABARZON, Information Officer
Story: Angelo R. Pabilonia, Community Development Officer