The Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIPs) of Romblon and Oriental Mindoro gained the positive impressions of the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Units (PPMIUs) and partner National Government Agencies (NGAs).

During the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) assessment on the institutionalization of PCIP on August 30 to 31, the said offices expressed their positive feedback on the relevance of having PCIPs. The provinces were grouped separately for their respective focus group discussion (FGD) and assessment.

The said assessment was aimed at identifying the best practices and addressing the gaps and issues in terms of PCIP institutionalization so that it can be maximized. Recommendations on better strategies and approaches in the implementation of programs and interventions presented in the CIP were also collected and discussed during the activity.

The NGA representatives who participated in the respective FGDs of Oriental Mindoro and Romblon were from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

The PCIP presents comprehensive profile, investment opportunities, and strategic interventions to improve production and resolve identified issues and concerns in the development of priority commodities. It is based on the value chain analysis reports and results of consultations with stakeholders and industry key players.

According to the NGA representatives, the PCIP serves as a reliable basis for making their own project proposals. They also said that the PCIP is a good anchor for collaboration of programs and projects for the farmers.

The Romblon PPMIU shared that the PCIP motivates the farmers to improve their production, because of the support they see from the NGAs.

Meanwhile, the PPMIU of Oriental Mindoro and the RAFC observed that the PCIP helped renew the interest of farmers who shifted from the production of calamansi to other crops.

Although the assessment participants identified constraining factors in the formulation and implementation of CIP, they still see its significance in improving the lives of the farmers and in minimizing the impact of poverty through the bottom-up approach.

In general, the participants committed to implement the CIPs even after the PRDP has ended. ### (Denice Joelle Benosa, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)