The Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) through its Graduate School in Economics and its Research and Extension Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 26, 2021 for the implementation of an economics extension program.

Among those present during the virtual MOU signing were PUP’s Vice President for Research, Extension and Development Dr. Anna Ruby Gapasin, Graduate School Dean Dr. Elmer De Jose, MS Economics Chair Dr. Ricardo Dizon, Research and Extension Chief Dr. Arvin De La Cruz, and ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma R. Badiola, along with other officials and staff of PUP and ACPC.

Through the collaboration, PUP shall provide training on planning and development, use of different statistical software in research and data analysis, financial analysis and budget preparation and evaluation; conduct studies related to human resource development; and organize focus group discussions on relevant research projects, among others.

The ACPC, on the other hand, shall provide the necessary support and resources need and may tap PUP’s faculty members and staff to serve as consultants, resource speakers, trainers to conduct training to help improve the quality of life of the constituents of ACPC.

ACPC Exec. Dir. Badiola said that the ACPC will work collaboratively with the PUP on the sound implementation of the said extension program collaboration.  “This partnership can greatly help capacitate our agency’s manpower so we can efficiently fulfill our mandates for the benefit of our country’s small farmers and fisherfolk,” added Exec. Dir. Badiola.

For her part, Dr. Gapasin said that the partnership affirms the University’s mission in contributing to sustainable development by establishing an alliance with ACPC that will lead to resource sharing, program support and research collaborations. Dr. de Jose, on the other hand, said that, through the partnership, ACPC and PUP can share expertise and resources, and reinforce each other’s research and capacity development programs. Dr. Dizon stated that the PUP MS Economics Program will ensure the availability of extension program staff for the conduct of research, monitoring and feedback and progress reports. In closing, Dr. De La Cruz assured the ACPC that PUP, through its Graduate School Research and Extension Office, will ensure the successful implementation of the said collaboration.