Koronadal City, South Cotabato – Farmer organizations, cooperatives, associations, and other eligible civil society organizations (CSOs) in SOCCSKSARGEN can now apply year-round and free of charge for accreditation with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) XII, strengthening their eligibility to participate in and benefit from various government-funded agricultural programs and projects.
The accreditation formally recognizes legitimate, capable, and accountable organizations as eligible partners of the Department in implementing or benefiting from DA-funded programs, pursuant to Administrative Circular No. 03, Series of 2022.
For organized farmers and fisherfolk, accreditation can provide a stronger footing to participate in DA-supported interventions involving agricultural inputs, farm machinery, infrastructure, marketing assistance, and other forms of support, subject to the requirements of specific programs. For CSOs that intend to co-implement DA projects involving cash transfers or interventions amounting to PhP 1 million or more, accreditation is mandatory.
“Accreditation shouldn’t be seen as an additional burden. It is actually how organizations become formally recognized as partners of the government,” DA-RFO XII’s Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division Chief and CSO Accreditation Head Secretariat, Ms. Nelly Ylanan said.
Ylanan further said, the accreditation program already covers a wide network of farmer and community organizations across the region.
Since 2012, Ylanan reported that DA-RFO XII has 118 active accredited CSOs, while 348 organizations have been accredited. “Of the total, 216 certificates have expired, 13 organizations have been renewed, and one has been waived,” she explained citing the latest data from the Regional Technical Secretariat.
The province of Cotabato has the highest number of accredited CSOs in the region, with 113 organizations.
“Our agency expects around 50 organizations to apply for accreditation this year, while 11 applications were approved last year,” she shared.
For DA-RFO XII Regional Executive Director John B. Pascual, the figures reflect the continuing participation of organized groups in the DA’s programs, as well as the need for eligible organizations to secure or maintain their accreditation when required by specific projects.
Eligible applicants include cooperatives, federations, farmers’ and irrigators’ associations, people’s organizations, indigenous peoples’ organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, foundations, alliances or networks, and civic groups duly registered with the appropriate government agencies.
Applications for CSO accreditation are free and open year-round, with no fixed deadline. The accreditation is valid for five years from the date of approval.
Interested organizations may submit their applications to the DA-RFO XII in Koronadal City. Online submission is available for the initial checking of requirements, but applicants are still required to submit three complete, valid, and notarized hard copies of their documents.
Applications are evaluated by the CSO Accreditation Secretariat, Regional Technical Working Group, and Regional Technical Committee.
Applicants may contact the DA-RFO XII CSO Accreditation Secretariat at 0926-981-1408 or accreditation.da12@gmail.com for assistance and guidance on the requirements and application process. (Lynziejile S. Lapiña)
In the photos are some of the civil society organizations and farmer groups accredited by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office XII as eligible partners in the implementation of different agricultural programs and projects, with applications for accreditation open year-round and free of charge