The Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) unanimously approved the P29.3 million subproject entitled “Corn Silage Production and Marketing and Related Services” of the Licaong Agriculture Cooperative and the P17.6 million subproject entitled “Processing and Marketing of Carabao Milk- Based Products” of the Catalanacan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CAMPC), after thorough deliberation during the meeting held on August 26, 2022 in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Led by its Chairman, DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office 3 (RPCO 3) Project Director Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz, Jr., the RPAB thoroughly deliberated and signed the approval of the subprojects which was presented by the respective cooperatives, both from the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The subprojects are proposed to address different identified constraints in the value chain but both generally aim to improve the income of farmers engaged in their respective commodities.

Members of the RPAB includes representatives from other relevant government agencies: DA Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council Chairman Engr. Francisco A. Hernandez, Department of Agrarian Reform Region 3 Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) of Land Tenures Mr. Iluminado Ocampo, Department of Trade and Industry Nueva Ecija OIC –Provincial Director Dr. Richard Simangan, Department of Interior and Local Government Region 3 Engr. Russel Benedict P. Gotiangco, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Regional Director for Management Services Mr. Laudemir S. Salac, and Department of Public Works and Highways Nueva Ecija Engr. Dina Evangelista.

The PRDP’s regional approving body discussed their thoughts and recommendations on the business plan presented by representatives from each cooperative which cover their capital investment requirement. For the corn silage enterprise proposal, components included are the production facility, two four-wheel drive tractor, two corn planters, a corn forage harvester, two dumping trailers, a delivery truck, and other production equipment. Meanwhile, the carabao milk enterprise proposal is requesting for a storage facility, two delivery trucks, an FB van, and other production and marketing materials.

According to RPCO 3 Action Officer Maricel L. Dullas, since these subprojects are funded under the enterprise development component of the PRDP, I-REAP, the subproject does not end in providing facilities that would help the enterprise realize their goals. Also included in the subproject package are funds allocated for different entrepreneurial skills from bookkeeping to values formation for the proponent groups.

These subprojects are now subject to be endorsed for the issuance of No Objection Letter 1 from the PRDP North Luzon Cluster Project Support Office.

Experts in the dairy industry

According to Mr. Alexander Dumale, Chairman of the Licaong Agriculture Cooperative, their members were already involved in corn silage production way back in 2005 when they were just known as the Licaong Dairy Producers’ Cooperative. Thanks to the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), they were trained in the process of silage production which they were able to use for their own farms’ consumption.

The cooperative’s Business Manager Dr. Libertado Cruz added that despite of being recently registered under their new name in November 2019, their members’ experience in silage production can back up their ability to make this subproject a success in the near future.

On the other hand, CAMPC Chairman Ferdinand Cueva stated that in 1991, they were granted 25 carabaos by the PCC which they were able to reproduce to 140 carabaos to date. This proves that they are also equipped to achieve their goal of increasing the income their business and the individual farmers involved in this enterprise.

Enterprise link to the value chain

The corn silage subproject aims to respond to the inadequacy of forage grass and water supply during prolonged summer season caused by climate change and punctuated by the increasing number of dairy animals. Through the fermentation of corn stalks, this enterprise is proposed to contribute to satisfy the scarce supply of forage and will be offered at a lower price.

Meanwhile, the carabao milk subproject is set to intervene with constraints identified as the milk spillage while in transit to the market, inadequate milk processing capability and transport facilities in delivering the processed products. (By: Ram Bautista, InfoACE – RPCO 3)