The groundbreaking of the 14.689 km farm to market road amounting to Php 142,095,405.95 in Moncada, Tarlac was successfully held on June 13, 2017 attended by Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office 3 (RPCO3) heads, provincial and municipal officials of Moncada, Tarlac.

The Improvement of Capaoayan – Banaoang – Ablang Sapang FMR in Moncada is the first FMR project in the province of Tarlac funded under PRDP. The FMR will support the implementation of the enterprise “Provision of Custom Service Facility and Establishment of Processing Center and Storage Facility for Sweetpotato”, another PRDP subproject that will be managed by Sapang Multi–Purpose Cooperative. The activity also marked the start of the construction of the Processing Center and Storage Facility for Sweetpotato, which will be used for the post-harvest production of the Sapang MPC.

Governor Susan Yap, Vice Governor Carlito David, BM Jessie Aquino, Mayor Estelita Aquino and RPCO3 Focal Person RTD Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr. led the inauguration and groundbreaking activity.

“Tarlac has the highest number and cost in terms of I-REAP subprojects in the North Luzon A Cluster,” said Yap. She added that the province also proposed many regular I-REAP subprojects this 2017.

She also reminded the Sapang MPC on the proper care and maintenance of the farm machinery and postharvest facility in order to maintain the efficiency of the machinery, and also for the attainment of the Project’s main objectives.

RTD Bautista mentioned that the DA will continue to provide assistance and support to the local government unit to increase the income of farmers. He also reminded the beneficiaries of the FMR particularly the barangay officials to monitor the implementation of the project to become successful.

During the event, PPMIU Head Ms. Frances Canlas shared the hardship that they went through in order to get the approval of the FMR and Enterprise subproject for sweetpotato.

“This FMR is the fruit of our hard work and determination in getting this project. I hope that the beneficiaries will enrich the project given to them by the PRDP,” said Canlas.

Ms. Canlas also challenged the Sapang MPC to work together and be transparent to one another in managing their business and be a model cooperative not only in the province but to the whole Central Luzon.

With Moncada being the first recipient of PRDP in Tarlac, municipal mayor Estelita Aquino expressed her appreciation and gratefulness for the implementation of the project. She likewise reminded the beneficiaries and barangay officials to be involved in monitoring the subproject, because they are the ones always present in the area during implementation.

Engr. Cesar Tabago, Manager of Sapang MPC thanked all the agencies involved in the preparation and approval of the project particularly the Enterprise subproject.

He promised in behalf of all the members of the cooperative that all the intervention coming from the PRDP and other government agencies will contribute in attaining the increase in real household income of member and be transparent in the implementation of the project. (Gil G. David, I-SUPPORT Component Head)