TARLAC CITY – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Tarlac Extension Office (TAREO) trained farmer-leaders of Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) in Central Luzon to strengthen their organizational and governance capacities and sustain their operations in support of agricultural productivity and rural development.
Organized in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the capacity development training gathered more than 40 IA federation leaders from across the region.
This activity aimed to equip farmer-leaders with essential knowledge on organizational management and governance to help their associations remain compliant with SEC regulations and sustain their operations.
SEC-TAREO Director Richard Laus discussed the services and policies of the Commission, including registration procedures for non-stock corporations, proper filing of annual reports through the SEC’s online platforms, submission of updated contact information, and adherence to basic corporate governance rules.
He emphasized that compliance with SEC regulations is not only a legal requirement but is also a way to strengthen the transparency, accountability, and credibility of irrigators’ associations.
According to Laus, strong organizational governance enables associations to establish partnerships with government agencies and private institutions giving them wider access to programs and projects for their communities.
Laus also underscored the Commission’s commitment to supporting grassroots organizations, emphasizing that compliance reflects the sustainability and credibility of the associations.
“Through compliance and good governance, irrigators’ associations can strengthen their role as partners in agricultural development. The SEC is here not only as a regulator, but also as a partner in empowering their organizations to thrive and serve their members more effectively,” Laus said.
Meanwhile, NIA Region III Engineering and Operations Division Manager Christian Manalo thanked the SEC for its active role in empowering farmer-leaders in the region.
“By equipping our leaders with the right knowledge on governance and compliance, we are ensuring that our irrigators’ associations can thrive as strong, accountable, and sustainable partners in agricultural development,” Manalo stated.
This joint activity reflects the shared commitment of SEC and NIA to empower farmers and promote good leadership and corporate governance, thus contributing to agricultural productivity and rural development in Central Luzon. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)