With all the member- agencies present, the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) chaired by Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo in its 25th Business Meeting approved for endorsement to the Project Support Office (PSO) an enterprise and a farm-to-market road (FMR).

“These subprojects aim to uplift the lives of farmers in rural areas. With the help of other agencies, we can attain inclusive growth,” RED Narciso A. Edillo said.

Ms. Ma. Rosario Paccarangan, I-REAP Component Head and AMAD Chief presented the subproject profile of Tilapia Fingerlings Production and Marketing Enterprise which amounts to 23.4 million pesos proposed by Wigan Settlers Multipurpose Cooperative (WSMPC).

“The constraints identified under the Value Chain Analysis and the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan are erratic and low productivity of hatcheries due to effects of climate change resulting in lack of supply of fries and fingerlings during stocking period,” Ms. Paccarangan said.

According to her, the enterprise, through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) will provide climate-smart hatchery production, the establishment of water sources and upgrading of pilot nursery and rearing ponds to address the constraints.

The enterprise will cover a total area of one (1) hectare for fingerlings production. Sex-reversed tilapia fingerlings will be produced using Hapa Based Method.

With Paccarangan were Ms. Gladys Cuhmaling, manager of WSMPC, the board of directors and staff. Isabela Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) led by Ms. Sally Valencia accompanied the WSMPC contingent.

“Moreover, with the enterprise increase in the annual average income of the cooperative members on the interest of share capital from Php245. 79 per member to Php307.97 by the end of year one (1) of operation is seen,” Paccarangan said.

“Also, an additional income on Patronage Refund of the 200 members at Php2,888.74 each at the end of year one (1) [of operation].”

Meanwhile, Hon. Juan Capuchino, mayor of Naguilian, Isabela discussed the economic, social, technical and operational analyses of Quinalabasa-Bagong Sikat-Victoria FMR.

“The FMR which amounts to115.4 million pesos is very significant to the people of Naguilian as this is the only main access road of farmers in the area to the commercial center of the municipality and to the National Highway,” Capuchino explained.

The 7. 24 kilometer- FMR will support Roxas, Isabela Rice Growers Cooperative venturing into aromatic and pigmented rice. It likewise will be used as an access road of the farmers growing corn, cassava, and banana in Barangay Victoria and Bagong Sikat.

With Mayor Capuchino were members of the Sangguniang Bayan and the Department Heads of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Naguilian. (Dr. Ferdinand N. Cortez, RPCO2 InfoACE)