The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) conducted a Retooling on Basic Bookkeeping and Record Keeping for 10 farmers’ associations in Tingloy, Batangas to strengthen record management practices and enhance organizational accountability among beneficiary groups from April to May 2026.
The activity was part of the program’s continuing capability-building efforts to ensure that farmer-beneficiaries are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage their associations and livelihood enterprises as they progress in their development.
Tingloy is in its fourth year of being under SAAD Program implementation and is among the pilot municipalities covered by the program since 2023. Over the years, beneficiary associations have undergone various Social Preparation (SocPrep) activities and received interventions under the Food Production and Livelihood Components.
As the associations transition into the Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) stage, maintaining accurate and organized records has become increasingly important in managing their enterprises, monitoring organizational performance, and ensuring transparency among members.
While the associations previously received similar capacity-building activities during the early years of implementation, the retooling training was conducted to refresh and enhance their knowledge and skills in bookkeeping and record keeping, particularly now that their associations are actively operating and generating income.
The training sessions focused on the fundamentals of bookkeeping and record keeping, including the proper documentation of transactions, maintenance of organizational records, and preparation of basic financial reports. Complementary topics on financial literacy and management, such as budgeting, savings, and investments, were also discussed to help participants understand the importance of accurate records in making sound financial decisions.
Depending on the needs and current practices of each farmers’ association, additional topics such as conducting meetings and drafting resolutions were incorporated to further strengthen organizational governance.
To measure learning gains and assess participants’ understanding of the topics discussed, pre-test and post-test were administered during each training session. Evaluation of the training and the resource persons were also done every training for continuous improvement. The results will be encoded by the SocPrep Component and will serve as a basis for future capacity-building and technical assistance.
According to Ms. Valerie D. Din, SocPrep Component Lead and one of the resource persons for the activity, proper bookkeeping and record keeping are essential in ensuring transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making within farmers’ associations.
“Dahil ang mga asosasyon ng SAAD ay nasa yugto na ng MAED, hindi na sapat ang basta pagpaparami lang ng ani at alagang hayop. Ang tunay na pagsasaka ay isang negosyo at ang susi ng tagumpay nito ay ang tamang kwenta, maayos na listahan, at matalinong pamamahala,” she emphasized.
[Since SAAD-assisted associations are already in the Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) stage, increasing production alone is no longer enough. Farming is a business, and its success depends on proper accounting, organized record keeping, and sound management.]
The retooling activities were facilitated as part of its commitment to building self-reliant and sustainable farmer groups capable of managing and expanding their livelihood and enterprises beyond the duration of program assistance.
Following the completion of retooling sessions in Tingloy, similar activities are scheduled for 15 more farmers’ associations in the municipalities of Alabat, Perez, and Quezon from June to August 2026 to further strengthen the capacities of SAAD-assisted associations as they continue to develop and sustain their enterprises. ###
