To support collaborative efforts in agricultural enterprise development, Partido State University (ParSU) joined partner institutions in signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing the Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach (AECA) Site Working Group (SWG) for Bicol on August 20, 2026, during the 2nd Regional Cluster Summit of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA RFO 5) in Naga City.
The three-day summit, organized by DA RFO 5 under the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program, brought together farmer clusters, institutional buyers, private sector partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to expand market opportunities, build agribusiness partnerships, and support the commercialization of locally produced agricultural commodities.ย
The session featured the ceremonial signing of the MOU, formalizing the participation of partner institutions in the regional SWG. ParSU President Dr. Arnel B. Zarcedo represented the University during the signing, reaffirming ParSU's commitment to collaborative initiatives that support agricultural enterprises and create sustainable opportunities for farming communities.
The partnership provides ParSU with an avenue to connect its research, instruction, innovation, and extension expertise with the needs of farmers and agricultural enterprises. It also opens opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students to contribute knowledge and technology toward the development of market-ready products and the translation of research outputs into practical solutions for communities.
As part of the summit, Ms. Jonalyn M. Periรฑa, Assistant Professor I of the College of Business Management, shared ParSU's experience in implementing the AECA, highlighting the University's role in linking academic expertise with capacity-building initiatives for farmers, enterprise development, and market access.
ParSU Eco Pure Cleaning Solutions, a student-led enterprise of BS Entrepreneurship graduates, and the Lagonoy Calamansi Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (LACAFA), a partner cooperative of ParSU under the AECA initiative, also participated as exhibitors, showcasing their products and highlighting the potential of entrepreneurship and agricultural enterprise development.
The participation of both enterprises provided an avenue to showcase locally developed products and strengthen connections with potential market partners, including opportunities to expand the reach of LACAFA's calamansi products.
Through its involvement in the AECA, ParSU contributes its academic, research, innovation, and extension expertise to efforts that support more competitive, resilient, and market-oriented agricultural enterprises in the Bicol Region.
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