In a consolidated effort toward unified and market-driven rice development, the Department of Agriculture – National Rice Program (NRP) successfully conducted the FY 2026 1st MRIDP Clustering and Consolidation Workshop on February 23–27, 2026 at The Tropics, MacArthur Park, Palo, Leyte.
Anchored on the banner of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), the five-day activity gathered Regional Rice Program Coordinators, cluster organization focal persons, partner agencies, and national technical staff to align strategies toward a cluster-based implementation of the NRP.
The workshop formally opened with messages of support and direction from key officials. The activity emphasized the importance of clustering as a transformative strategy – moving beyond fragmented assistance toward organized, scalable, and sustainable rice enterprises.
Underscoring the MRIDP’s commitment to advancing rice industry development through strengthened coordination and institutional partnerships, the program sourced various representatives from partner institutions – Including the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD through KALAHI-CIDSS).
The activity highlighted the rollout and continuation of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Organizations and Registration Information System (FFORIS), facilitated by the Operations Management Information Section (OMIS), provided participants with a streamlined digital platform to support registration, monitoring, and consolidation of cluster organizations nationwide.
Meanwhile, in an effort to further strengthen institutional foundations, CDA detailed the legal identity and accreditation process for rice clusters, while the presentation of the Implementing Guidelines for the Establishment of Rice Clusters (MC 49, series of 2025) clarified operational standards and compliance mechanisms.
The workshop also featured successful clustering models from the regions. DA-RFO II showcased the “Big Brother–Small Brother” collaboration model in Cagayan Valley, demonstrating how mature organizations can mentor emerging clusters. Meanwhile, DA-CARFO presented the FLORACO convergence approach, highlighting how inter-agency collaboration accelerates cluster development.
These case presentations allowed participants to contextualize strategies and adapt best practices to their respective regions. Through structured workshop mechanics and collaborative outputs, participants crafted actionable plans that align production, consolidation, marketing, and institutional development within organized rice clusters.
The activity concluded with a synthesis of key agreements and next steps, reaffirming the DA’s commitment to fostering resilient, competitive, and market-oriented rice clusters nationwide.
More than a compliance exercise, the FY 2026 1st MRIDP Clustering and Consolidation Workshop served as a platform for convergence – bringing together technical, institutional, and community development partners under one strategic direction.
As clustering becomes central to the implementation of the National Rice Program, the Department of Agriculture continues to champion a development approach that empowers farmers not as isolated beneficiaries, but as organized stakeholders driving a sustainable and thriving rice industry.
