Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) partner-organizations all over the Visayan region gather to its first-ever Visayas-wide Partner-NGO’s forum here in Iloilo City last Nov. 22-23, 2012.

The two-day forum aims to create synergies and better coordination between the NGO partners of Masipag-Visayas. The forum will also further define the roles of non-government organization members and partners within network in organizational development and people’s organization’s strengthening in the context of farmer-empowerment, food security and self-reliance.

“The success of any development endeavor or program greatly relies upon the strength of the organization that leads on-the-ground implementation of the sustainable agriculture program. It is therefore the role of each partner to contribute in realizing this goal,” said Georie Pitong, Masipag-Visayas regional coordinator.

“While peoples’ organizations and farmers are putting into actual practice the Masipag sustainable agriculture  principles and programs in their respective farms and households, non-governmental organizations and scientists have an equally important role in realizing farmer-centered agriculture research programs and facilitate a people-led development through organizing and capacitating the farmers and their organizations,” added Pitong.

Twenty-five participants from partner NGOs and network staff of Masipag-Visayas coming from Negros, Leyte and Panay islands attend the forum. The partners shared their approaches in community organizing and mobilizing people to face such agriculture issues as the incursion of genetically-modified crops, climate change and development projects that threaten the farming communities’ food security.

Other resource persons who shared their insights and experiences in community development and organizing included the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs of the University of the Philippines in Diliman Ms. Marion Jimenez-Tan and Mr. Mandy Felicia, Masipag’s Organizational Development consultant.*PR