Capacitating the ARBOs in Sorsogon

Gubat, Sorsogon – series of trainings to capacitate the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs) are being conducted by DAR Sorsogon under the Capacity Development Program.

Last July 14-15, 2016 seventeen (17) cooperatives enjoyed the Effective Communication Skills training the way it was delivered to them by Jenell P. Paghubasan, Chairperson of South-Luzon Federation of Cooperatives (SIDECO). The training focused more on how to deal with people from different walks of life. According to Maribel J. Lubiano, the training facilitator, it is essential for the cooperatives because they made transactions everyday, so they should know the proper way of communicating with people to achieve their goal.

This was followed by Internal Control training on July 28-29, 2016 wherein the same cooperatives were taught about the financial flow in an organization, how to audit based on existing policies, and the critical responsibilities of the Committee on Audit.

These trainings were conducted under the cooperative strengthening program of DAR in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) where the DAR is directed to provide free CDA mandated trainings to the ARBOs.

Meanwhile, trainings in preparation for the application of Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) have also started. This is a partnership program of DAR with the Land Bank of the Philippines which aims to provide the ARBOs an access to finance for production purposes. Last August 10-12, 2016 thirteen ARBOs were trained on Financial Management.

“We would like you to learn how to handle the finances of your associations or cooperatives. We would like you to know how to prepare financial reports properly. If your members are confident with the way your officers manage the finances, better camaraderie will be developed in your organization,” Samuel R. Ongcal, Jr., OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer-I told the participants.

On August 24-26, 2016, another APCP-related training was provided to forty-four (44) representatives of fifteen (15) ARBOs. Through the expertise in entrepreneurship and management of Edward N. Divinaflor, Roselyn O. Oliva, and Maria Edelyn S. Lovedario they were imparted with the knowledge of becoming an entrepreneur (its difference with businessman), agri-business, and marketing. During their workshop, the participants found opportunity to link the meat processing which they learned in a separate skills training, as a way to make income during the “waiting season” in farming.

“We assumed that the reason why you are here is because you are interested to avail our Agrarian Production Credit Program. That’s why, we would like to capacitate you through these trainings. So that in times that you already access this credit service, you will know how to manage your finances in order to prevent loss, but to make it grow, instead,”  Leonito M. Gaveria, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer-II said.

Finally, on September 14-16, 2016 eighteen (18) ARBOs participated in the 3-day training on Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants. Again, this is part of the APCP which is their last training for the year under the Cap-Dev’t Program. ###