PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO I-PLAN Component conducts the 4th Convergence Meeting on the Implementation of the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Interagency convergence opens business opportunities in Or Min
CALAPAN CITY, ORIENTAL MINDORO – The initiative of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to institutionalize value chain analysis of commodities produced positive collaboration between government agencies and other stakeholders in Oriental Mindoro.
Since the beginning of the PRDP’s implementation in the province, the local government has been keen on improving the production of its champion commodities.
During the 4th Convergence Meeting on the Implementation of the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) for Oriental Mindoro, calamansi was highlighted to have received different interventions from different government agencies.
The Department of Science and Technology, in particular, established a National Calamansi Research and Development Center together with the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MINSCAT) to further develop calamansi products and enhance its quality.
On the other hand, the Bureau of Plant Industry, in cooperation with the Provincial Agriculture Office, distributed calamansi seedlings to farmers as part of their intervention in giving technical support.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agrarian Reform recognized the calamansi gummy and candy as variety of products that the province can develop as new pasalubong items. As agreed in the said meeting, their proposals will be presented in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan meeting by the Provincial Agriculturist Christine Pine.
The convergence attendees also stated that banana and virgin coconut oil (VCO) are next in line in commodity prioritization after calamansi. While the DTI has not yet specified new projects for the VCO industry, the agency has funding for interventions in the PCIP that matches existing ones. The Provincial Government is expected to coordinate their needs to the concerned agency for the continuous implementation of the PCIP.
As a last note, the local government expressed that they are actively calling for proposals from cooperatives or associations who are ready to take advantage of this opportunity.### (Leira Vic Colongon, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit
