LIBON, ALBAY – “Dati kasi tuwing may bagyo dadapa ang opisina namin. Pinaghihirapan namin para maitayo uli. Nangarap po kami noon na kahit maliit lang na opisina para sa aming kooperatiba, ngayon po natupad na dahil sa proyektong ito (Our old office was easily destructed by typhoons and we worked hard to reconstruct it. We dreamt of having a sturdy office for our cooperative and now it has come true through this project),” said Josias Pedrocello, Chairman of Tunay Tapat Lahing Pilipino Cooperative (TTLPC).

With gratitude, he accepts the 150 square meter Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise Warehouse and other interventions from the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) on December 20 at Sitio La Medalla, Brgy. Bonbon, this municipality.

The PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) Deputy Project Director (DPD) Shandy Hubilla, PRDP-Bicol DPD Adelina Losa and Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU)-Albay Head Engr. Macario Pavia, and Pedrocello led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies and unveiling of the subproject marker for the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise.

Other equipment, materials, and vehicles were also handed over to TTLPC. “Malaki na yung tulong ng government. Andyan na yung makina, andyan na yung building. Wala nang rason para hindi gumalaw yung mga gustong umunlad sa buhay (This [project] is a great help from the government. Machines, equipment, and building are already provided. All we have to do is maximize their use so we can uplift our lives),” Pedrocello stated.

DPD Hubilla reminded the PG that the turnover of interventions is just the beginning of the I-REAP subproject’s progress in business.

“Ang negosyo dapat nag-uuswag (A business must continually grow),” he underscored.

He cited four criteria to guarantee business success namely operation, marketing, financial management and organization with emphasis on the importance of building a stable market, well-managed income statements, and transparency.

Likewise, Losa encouraged the TTLPC to work together in expanding the economic opportunities not only of its members but of the entire community.

Jerome Pedrocillo, the Operations Manager, mentioned that since the enterprise’s full operation in June 2018, it already provided livelihood to over 80 twiners who earn more or less P3,000 per week. It also provided an average income of P300-P400 per day to weavers, decorticators, haulers, and driver.

The PG also plans to share their knowledge in coco geonets manufacturing to Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-assisted farmer-beneficiaries from Bato and Buhi, Camarines Sur. TTLPC eyes the said organizations as possible sources of coco geonets when market demand begins to scale up.  ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)  

PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon Deputy Project Director (DPD) Shandy Hubilla, PRDP-Bicol DPD Adelina Losa, Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU)-Albay Head Engr. Macario Pavia, PPMIU-Albay I-REAP Head Rafaelita Nicoleta and Tunay Tapat Lahing Pilipino Cooperative (TTLPC) Chairman Josias Pedrocello lead the ribbon-cutting ceremonies and unveiling of the subproject marker for the P5.79 million-worth Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise.

PRDP-Bicol Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa encourages the TTLPC to work together in providing economic opportunities for its members as well as the entire community.

PRDP PSO South Luzon Deputy Project Director Shandy Hubilla turns over the Certificate of Turn-Over and Acceptance to Tunay Tapat Lahing Pilipino Cooperative (TTLPC) Chairman Josias Pedrocello.

The TTLPC members pose for a photo with PRDP PSO South Luzon DPD Shandy Hubilla, PRDP-Bicol DPD Adelina Losa, and RPCO and PPMIU staff.

(Photos by Hermito Antonio Privaldos, DA-RAFIS V)