Public Perception on Corporate Social Responsibilities of Various Agricultural Industries in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Recent influx of multinational agri-companies (PMFT, Del Monte, Dole) has changed the socio-economic and agro-ecosystems dynamics of the municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental. Conventional cropping systems, such as vegetable and corn production, have been replaced by corporate-dictated commodities, namely, tobacco, pineapple, and banana. These firms operate with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) as the company’s commitment to contribute to sustainable economic development, working with employees, their families, the local community, and society at large to improve their quality of life. However, to have a real impact among locals, CSR must be thoroughly understood and local perception must be gauged. A series of focus group discussions involving key stakeholders and local officials and a survey involving more than 200 respondents within the study site were conducted. Survey questionnaires were translated to local dialect, pretested, and administered. Responses were collated and analyzed using central tendencies (mean, median, mode) and revalidated. Results show that the companies’ existence made a positive impression with the local government, but low to very low awareness on the issue of CSR within the general public was shown. Perceived awareness of any initiatives at improving social or environmental conditions in the community was indeed very low and most respondents claimed to have no idea at all. The community has not fully appreciated the efforts of these companies and failed to fully understand that the scope of corporate responsibility may operate beyond the companies’ normal commercial environment or traditional business operations and can thus benefit the community

Assessment of the Potential of an Organizational Enterprise for Coco Coir Production and Marketing in Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines

An assessment identifying the needs on technology and facilities of Sugbongcogon Agrarian Reform Benefi ciaries Multipurpose Cooperative (SARBEMCO) in Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental to implement an enterprise on Coco Coir Production and Marketing was conducted in order to strategize and recommend feasible plan for capacity development efforts and empower members of the identified organization. Through a purposive sampling technique, a total of 58 members answered the TNA questionnaires and results were validated through FGD and site reconnaissance. Findings were then categorized according to the existing condition of the organization, environmental scan and SWOT analysis of the organization and financial capacities. The study revealed that Coco Coir Production and Marketing for SARBEMCO as an organization, is a very promising enterprise due to abundant supply of raw materials, labor and presence of market. Implementation of the said enterprise in the area would address the needs of its members and other farmers since farming in the locality is coco based. Conducting an in-depth training for coco coir production and marketing, and the provision of village level machineries to complete the cycle of production from fiber to coco net products is one potential enterprise that could contribute to the increase of household incomes of its members, as well as job generation within the community. With constant monitoring of these Agrarian Reform Communities by DAR, the strong organizational structure of SARBEMCO plus the positive support from the Local Government Unit of Sugbongcogon who is willing to assist the project by providing an initial funding assistance will contribute favorably to the sustainability of the project

Needs and Design Assessment for Corn Production Enterprise in Selected Agrarian Reform Communities of Cagayan de Oro City and Lanao del Norte, Southern Philippines

The needs and design assessment was conducted in the Agrarian Reform Communities of Cagayan de Oro City and Lanao del Norte. It aimed to identify performance requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBO), as well as the technology and facility needs for a corn production enterprise. Among the ARBOs assessed were: Pagalungan and Tagpangi Tribal and Settlers Association of Women Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, Taglimao Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative, Indahag Agrarian Reform Community Multipurpose Cooperative, Taguanao Agrarian Reform Community Multipurpose Cooperative and Palambu Cooperative. The needs assessment revealed that the ARBOs still need technologies, as well as facilities and machineries for corn production and marketing. The ARCs offer biophysical condition suitable for corn production. They have natural assets that would favor corn production as the main economic activity. Corn is an appropriate commodity for the ARCCESS project in the ARCs mentioned. The farmers in the ARCs have extensive experience and training related to corn production. The ARBOs have other needs, such as capability development, common service facility on pre- and post-harvest facilities, project monitoring and enterprise development, and financial management and assistance. With the provision of the aforementioned recommended activities and facilities, this should result in increased production, improved quality of products, increased income and realized more profits; thereby improving their standard of living. This will eventually lead to economic growth and development of the community and to the economy as a whole