Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. (second from right), SEARCA Director, called on Atty. Virgilio delos Reyes (third from right), new Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of the Philippines, on 29 July 2010. During the meeting, Secretary delos Reyes shared his general directions and targets for DAR. He expressed appreciation of SEARCA's offer of assistance to DAR. Others in photo are (l-r): Mr. Lope B. Santos, Project Development Specialist; Ms. Lily L. Tallafer, Special Projects Coordinator-Networks & Linkages; Dr. Francisco F. Peñalba, Deputy Director for Administration; and Dr. Bessie M. Burgos, Manager, Project Development and Management Department.

SEARCA has been a long-time partner of DAR. Among the projects that SEARCA has assisted DAR in implementing is "Sustaining the Gains of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP): MasterPlan for Philippine Rural Development." Conducted in 2008 with funding from the World Bank, the project aimed to fine tune agrarian reform in the context of global development by conducting an in-depth analysis of the situation. It had two phases: (1) conduct of a review of the sector, formulation of an enhanced CARP direction and framework, and formulation of a Master Plan; and (2) provision of technical assistance for the installation of systems, orientation, and institutionalization of interventions on the new direction and framework.