September 30, 2011
DAR MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 10-11
SUBJECT : Transforming the ARB Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Development Program (AREDP) Office to National ARCCESS Program Coordinating Office (NAPCO) and
Installing ARCCESS Implementing Structure at All Levels
WHEREAS Section 5 of Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall recognize the right of farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as cooperatives, and other independent farmers' organizations to participate in the planning, organization, and management of the agrarian reform program, and shall provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services.
WHEREAS Section 36, Chapter IX of RA 6657 provides that the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) shall ensure that support services are provided to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). These include extension services by way of planting, cropping, production and post harvest technology transfer, as well as marketing, management assistance, and support to ARB organizations.
WHEREAS Section 13 of RA 9700 provides that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall pursue an integrated land acquisition and distribution and support services strategy requiring a support services plan to be developed and implemented parallel to the land acquisition and distribution process.
WHEREAS the Philippine Development Plan (2011-2016) adapted as one of the strategies to achieve Competitive Agriculture and Fisheries the transformation of ARBs to entrepreneurs. For this purpose, DAR shall strengthen the organizational capacity of ARBs and ARB organizations to develop and manage agri-enterprise. ICAcHE
WHEREAS DAR is implementing the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Development Program (AREDP) with the objective of transforming ARBs as entrepreneurs and transforming Agrarian Reform Zones as agribusiness farmlands.
WHEREAS DAR established the AREDP National Program Management Office under DAR Memorandum Circular No. 06 Series of 2006 to be the lead implementing unit for the agri-enterprise development and was given full supervision and control over all aspects of program operations of the AREDP to lead as implementing unit of the AREDP with full supervision and control over all aspects of program operations.
WHEREAS an analysis of the present condition of the ARBs showed that DAR's intervention has led to the improvement in the income and quality of life of ARBs. However, the scaling up and replication of good practices and successes remain a challenge.
WHEREAS, as a result of the review of existing mechanism of delivering support services, DAR is implementing the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) as the strategy for delivering support services. ARCCESS aims to increase the income of the ARBs, reduce inefficiencies and improve the value of crops through consolidating business operations and building the ARBs' capacity to manage business enterprises.
NOW THEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, this Memorandum Circular is issued to establish the National ARCCESS Project Coordinating Office (NAPCO). ICTDEa
SECTION 1. National ARCCESS Program Coordinating Office (NAPCO). — The Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Development Program (AREDP) Office is hereby transformed into the National ARCCESS Coordinating Office (NAPCO) which shall be headed by the National Program Director. The NAPCO shall be under the control and supervision of the Undersecretary for Support Services.
SECTION 2. Role of NAPCO. — The NAPCO shall coordinate, manage, supervise, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ARCCESS Program. It shall also perform the following functions:
1. Manage the procurement requirements of the Program subject to the Bids and Awards Committee procedures, requirements and approval,
2. Oversee the management of contracts of the DAR Regional Offices (DARROs) and DAR Provincial Offices (DARPOs),
3. Provide technical assistance to DARROs and DARPOs in the implementation of ARCCESS,
4. Develop partnership with government agencies, local government units, international development agencies, investors, civil society organizations, and the private sector for the provision of ancillary services and market link-up of ARBs in coordination with Project Development and Management Services (PDMS), AEcTaS
5. Review and analyze monitoring reports and institute improvements on the implementation of the program where necessary, and
6. Resolve any grievance that may arise in the implementation of the program.
SECTION 3. National Program Advisory Committee. — there shall be a National Program Advisory Committee headed by the Secretary of the Department with Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries for Support Services, Legal Affairs, Field Operations, and Finance, Management and Administration and a representative from the agribusiness sector as members. The National Program Advisory Committee shall provide advice on the implementation of the program.
SECTION 4. Functions of the Project Director. — the Project Director shall perform the following management and administrative functions:
1. Manage and supervise the implementation of ARCCESS Program,
2. Consolidate the budget proposal for the Program,
3. Oversee the procurement of goods and services subject to the procedures, requirements and approval of Department's Bids and Awards Committee (BAC),
4. Provide technical assistance to DARROs and DARPOs in the implementation of the program, DcCITS
5. Resolve grievances that may arise in the implementation of the program and specific projects, and
6. Perform other project-related functions as may be required by the Support Services Office.
In the performance of his/her functions, the National Program Director shall be assisted by a National Deputy Program Director.
SECTION 5. Support Units. — There shall be support units within the NAPCO which shall provide administrative and technical support to the project:
1. Contract Review and Management Unit — shall oversee the implementation of centrally procured contracts with Business Development Service (BDS) providers, Community-Based Enterprise Organizers (CBEOs), ARB Organizations and the providers and suppliers of goods and services of the Program. The Unit, in collaboration with the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD), shall ensure that the contractors timely meet their obligations under the contracts to ensure fulfillment of Program objectives. The Unit shall also provide technical assistance to DARROs and DARPOs in the management of contracts. Furthermore, the Unit shall also be responsible for the grievance redress system of the Program.
2. Technical Assistance Unit — shall provide technical assistance to Regional ARCCESS Coordinating Unit (RAPCU) at the DARRO and Provincial ARCCESS Coordinating Unit (PAPCU) in the DARPO in the implementation of the program. In collaboration with the Support Services Office, it shall develop expertise on commodities and the agribusiness industry. TaDIHc
3. Monitoring and Evaluation Unit — shall regularly analyze and evaluate the monitoring reports that are generated by the Knowledge Management Division of the Support Services Office, and shall provide recommendations for the continuous improvement of the Program.
The units may be staffed by existing manpower complement of AREDP. In the event of the need for additional staff, qualified staff from other Offices, Bureaus, Services or Units of the Department may be detailed to NAPCO.
SECTION 6. Institutional Arrangements. — for seamless program integration, the NAPCO shall closely cooperate with the following offices:
a. Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD) — shall serve as information, education and communication center at the national level and shall assist the DARPOs in setting up information centers at the provincial level. It shall likewise assist NAPCO in the technical review/evaluation of projects. ASICDH
b. Project Development and Management Services (PDMS) — shall provide technical assistance to NAPCO.
c. Support Services Office Staff — shall provide information on sectors, industries, crops or commodities and shall generate program monitoring and evaluation reports along with the DAR Planning Service.
SECTION 7. Regional and Provincial ARCCESS Coordinating Units — To mainstream the implementation of the ARCCESS Program, there shall be a Regional ARCCESS Program Coordinating Unit (RAPCU) under the Regional Support Services Division (RSSD) and Provincial ARCCESS Program Coordinating Unit (PAPCU) under Beneficiaries Development and Coordination Division in all DAR Regional and Provincial Offices which shall supervise, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Program at regional and provincial offices, respectively.
SECTION 6. Separability. — If any provision of this Memorandum Circular is declared invalid by a competent authority, the same shall not affect the rest of the provision of the Circular.
SECTION 7. Repeal. — DAR Memorandum Circular No. 06, Series of 2006 is hereby repealed accordingly.
SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately upon approval. aHIDAE
Diliman, Quezon City. This 30th day of September 2011.
(SGD.) VIRGILIO R. DE LOS REYES
Secretary
ATTACHMENT
