Philippine Network of Rural Development Institutes, Inc. (PhilNet-RDI, Inc.)

Vision

PhilNet-RDI envisions the attainment of self-determining rural communities whose development is founded on equity, ecological sustainability, gender fairness, respect for people's rights and culture, and the economic, socio-cultural and political empowerment of the marginalized rural sectors and peoples (MRSP).

Missions

• To actively and directly participate in the process of rural democratization and development (RDD) in partnership with the marginalized rural sectors, their communities and organizations.
• To actively work for the broadest possible unity, support and participation of various sectors
• rural, urban and international
• for RDD.
• To implement programs and services that will enable the MRSP, their communities and organizations attain self-reliance and greater participation in the process of RDD.

Goals

• To work for the integration of equity, gender equality, empowerment, and ecological sustainability in the process of RDD by engaging in all-sided area-focused development efforts.
• To work for the expansion and integration of cooperatives of men and women through the advancement of inter-cooperative economic ventures and formal establishment of federations.
• To strengthen PhilNet-RDI as effective, efficient, and gender-fair machinery in the face of growing number of threats to rural communities, increasing pace and scale of unsustainable development, expanded areas of work, and the need to attain greater self-reliance.

Focus Partner/Sector

• Seasonal and plantation agricultural workers
• Tenants
• Leaseholders
• Small owner-cultivators
• Women-headed households
• Rural poor
• Indigenous people
• Fisherfolk

Development Framework

PhilNet-RDI believes in a balanced or an all-sided development initiatives for rural development and democratization at the ground level. Its overall framework aims at evolving a development strategy that works towards the broadest possible participation and balanced development of the marginalized rural sectors and peoples.

Its framework is underpinned by the idea of sustainable development; a "development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (World Commission on Environment and Development). Thus, it takes heed of three key elements of sustainable development:

1. the integration of environmental considerations into economic development planning and implementation,
2. a commitment to social equity, and
3. a reorientation to the term "development" to include the improvement of the quality of life of the people.

PhilNet-RDI's framework addresses squarely the need to achieve transformation of society; a society that is just, sustainable, and participatory, and a society that will secure for its people meaningful democracy and development.

Programs and Services

Rural Economic Development

• Rural cooperative organizing and education
• Asset reform and rural governance
• Productivity systems enhancement
• Enterprise development
• Area development planning and project development and management

Training and Consultancy

• Alternative development and democratization processes
• Capability building
• Rural community communications
• Development of PO-based educators

Research and Advocacy

• Sustainable agriculture and productivity enhancement
• Rural industries and enterprises development
• Market linkages and development
• Rural development situationer
• Local development policy analyses
• Provincial to regional crop and industry profiles
• Performance of local and national government agencies

Regional Centers

Regional Center Visayas
207-B Medalla Compound
Jakosalem Street, Cebu City
Tel. (032) 2531582
E-mail: philnetv@pacific.net.ph

Regional Center Mindanao
2nd Floor, Consolacion Function House
219 Ponce cor. Aurora Sts., Davao City
Telefax (082) 2277489
E-mail: rcminda@mail.gatesway.com

Member Organizations

• Bohol Institute for Rural Development
• Center for Rural Development-Cebu
• Davao Provinces Rural Development Institute
• Negros Center for Rural Democratization and Development
• Panay Rural Development Center, Inc.
• Rural Development Institute-Leyte
• Rural Development Institute-Sultan Kudarat
• Farmgrid Enterprises, Inc.