The Pangasinan State University through its Bachelor of Arts in Economics and PhD program has assisted the Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers’ Association of Bani, Pangasinan by training them develop their manual of operations which is an important tool in their operation. Such extension program is entiled “Adopt-a-Farmers’ Association Extension Program”.
Defined by the Commission on Higher Education, an Extension Program/ Project is a set of activities aimed to transfer knowledge or technology or to provide services to the community in consonance with the programs offered by any higher educational institution. Mandated by the Republic Act Number 8292, also known as the Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997, state universities and colleges (SUCs) are obliged to promote the establishment and development of research and extension centers and to establish of guidelines and procedures for participative decision making and transparency with the institution.
Through the initiative of the Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program, responding to the the need of a farmers’ group to develop their manual of operation was attended to by the University.
Extension projects conducted were Leadership Seminar cum project proposal writing workshop. Training on the development of the Manual of Operations of the Assocation was also done.
The association becomes a supplier to the Jollibee group of companies as institutional buyer.
A farmers’ training sponsored by the said institutional buyer through its Jollibee Foundation was attended by the officers of the Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers’ Association at EDSA Shangri-la where I, a representative of their partner in academe, was invited by the farmers’ association to witness their workshop and graduation.
In the completion of the Manual of operations of the Association, a series of meetings was held. On December 16, 2016, writeshop was held in Tugui Grande, attended by the farmer-members.
Completion of the Manual of Operations of the Association
On Sept. 2017 , the manual was completed. The implementation of the manual of operations in the organization to an improved operations has resulted to better performance of the Association.
The implementation of the manual of operations in the organization to an improved operations has resulted to better performance of the Association.
The impact of the project is more on the social aspect.The operations of the association improved due to the policies included in the manual such as standardizing operations through strict compliance to their delivery, supply of product, auditing policy, liquidation and efficient usage of resources.
Which led to the enhanced level of partnership between the Association and its institutional buyer from a provisionary status or level to A+ or partner, i.e. the Jollibee Food Corporation.
The income of the farmer-members increased when the Manual of operations was adopted.One reason is that, the price pegged per kilo by the institutional buyer is higher than that offered by buyers in the town market.
Because of the enhanced income, some farmers were able to puchase vehicles such as motorcycle Or tricyle, others were able to concretize their houses.
Monitoring activities are also scheduled to determine possible improvement of the projects conducted by the BA Economics program.
There is an increased membership since its registration which was 14 members, now up to 32, an increase of more than 100% in membership. Another indirect impact brought by the extension project was the blessing received by the Association from the Dept. Of Agriculture through the PRDP or the Philippine Rural Development Project which awarded a multi-million grant to the Association, as funded by the World Bank.
A tamato trading post facility is now being constructed. A grant was given to the association.
The project is closely monitored by the PDRP through its contractors and the LGU Pangasinan.
Part of the grants received by the Association are farm machines and equipment and also cash.
Faculty members from the Economics Department include Dr. Erna M. Salazar, Dr. Potenciano D. Conte, Jr. , Ms. Lea Sheraine Navarro, Mr. Leo de Vera, Jr., Mr. Jameson N. Estrada, Mr. Francis Gerald Amansec and Ms. Roselyn Villaruz. Meanwhile, the faculty from the PhD program who shared their time and expertise for the extension program include Dr. Armando D. Junio, Dr. Potenciano D. Conte, Jr., Dr. Christopher Cocal and the PSU SAS Administrators who served as consultant—Dr. Rosario DL. Valencerina.