Malaybalay City, Bukidnon – June 16, 2026 – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bukidnon, through the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, strengthened its collaboration with the Central Mindanao University–College of Business and Management (CMU-CBM) through a consultation meeting aimed at advancing the proposed Phase II of their Extension Capacity Development Partnership for partner Farmers' Organizations (FOs).

As the RAPID Growth Project enters its final implementation phase, DTI continues to prioritize sustainability by ensuring that partner FOs remain capable of managing and expanding their enterprises beyond the project's completion. The consultation focused on strengthening organizational capacity, refining assessment tools, and identifying interventions that will help FOs become more resilient, competitive, and self-sustaining.

Building on the achievements of the Phase I partnership, representatives from DTI Bukidnon and CMU-CBM proposed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for phase II, discussed enhancements to the organizational assessment instrument, and identified additional respondents to improve the comprehensiveness of the baseline assessment. The team also agreed to conduct validation visits to selected partner FOs in Pangantucan, San Fernando, and Damulog to ensure that future capacity-building interventions respond to the organizations' actual needs and development priorities.

The collaboration highlights the complementary strengths of both institutions. CMU-CBM contributes academic expertise in organizational development, research, and extension services, while DTI provides field experience and direct engagement with partner communities. Together, they aim to develop evidence-based interventions that will strengthen governance systems, enterprise management, leadership, and long-term institutional sustainability among partner FOs.

The proposed Phase II partnership also supports the RAPID Growth Project's Exit Strategy and Sustainability Plan (PESSP), ensuring that investments made throughout project implementation continue to generate lasting economic and social benefits for farming communities in Bukidnon. By empowering FOs with stronger organizational systems and management capabilities, the initiative seeks to enable them to independently sustain and expand their agricultural enterprises.

Through strengthened partnerships with academic institutions such as CMU-CBM, DTI Bukidnon reaffirms its commitment to building resilient farmers' organizations and promoting inclusive, sustainable rural enterprise development. The initiative demonstrates that lasting project impact is achieved not only through infrastructure and production support but also through investing in capable institutions and empowered community organizations that can drive local economic growth for years to come.