Members of 22 farmer cooperatives gleefully received mini tractors and implements from Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in an awarding ceremony held last March 27, 2018 in the Provincial Engineer’s Office, Sindalan, Pampanga.

Machinery were given to Pampanga based Cooperatives; Mandasig Farmers Association Inc., Iisang Damdamin Irrigator’s Association, Women’s Unity Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Sitio Caldo Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SCMPC), Pink Ladies Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Kapatirang Takusa Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KTMPC), Candaba Duck Raisers and Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative(CDRFMPC), Bambang Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Abe-Abe Marketing Cooperative, Maliwalu Balik Barangay Farmers Association, Inc., Sulong San Nicolas Farmers Marketing Cooperative, Virgen Delos Remedios Farmers Association, Inc., Sto. Niño Barangca Multi-Pupose Cooperative, Brgy. Culubasa Mexico Farmers Association, Inc., Sta. Ana Agricultural Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SAAMPC), Sto. Tomas, San Luis Farmers, Association Inc., Tabon, San Jose Farmers Association, Inc., Palinlang Multipurpose Cooperative, Immaculate Concepcion Good Living Advocacy of Farmers’ Association, Dampe Palay and Sugarcane Producers Cooperative, Vizal-San Pablo Irrigator’s Association, Parinian’s Farmers Association of Bahay Pare, Inc.

The mini tractors are given to the cooperatives to aid in their land preparation. With the acquisitions of the tractors the cost of renting can be eliminated thus giving more profit to the farmer-beneficiaries.

Furthermore, other interventions such as rice seeds will be given out in the next awarding. In her message PSO Luzon A Cluster Director Elma Mananes said that there is an expected 30% increase at the least in the profit of each cooperative-beneficiary and that the progress of each cooperative will be closely monitored. Director Mananes also hopes for the continuous progress of the beneficiaries.

The subproject total cost is reported to have been P21,973,300.00, 80% of the total cost is from World Bank, 10% from the Government of the Philippines  (GOP) and 10% from the Provincial Local Government of Pampanga. (Kayla Lingad, RPCO3 InfoACE)