The on-going COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the members of the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of Northern Mindanao as they unanimously approved three new subprojects for the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) under the Investment in Rural Enterprise and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) Component on May 19, 2020 via teleconferencing.

“With the current situation we have, we are limited to have teleconferencing as our means to meet and discuss important matters especially that some of you are from different provinces. But this will not stop us to do our tasks especially if it can benefit a lot of our farmers” said OIC-Regional Director of DA-10 and the Project Head of DA-PRDP 10 Carlene C. Collado, in his message during the said review.

The newly approved subprojects include the Fermented Dried Cacao Beans Processing and Marketing of Bugcaon Kulasihan Manupali Irrigators Association (BUKUMA IA) of Lantapan, Bukidnon, Banana Cardaba Trading & Banana Flour Processing and Marketing of Bualan Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (BARCOCO) of Tubod, Lanao del Norte, and Abaca Fiber Processing and Marketing of Buenacama Agrarian Reform Cooperative (BUCARCO) of Tudela, Misamis Occidental.

The proposed project of BUKUMA IA amounting to Php2,703,722.37 will serve more than 38 cacao farmer members in Lantapan and nearby municipalities of Bukidnon.

Meanwhile, the BARCOCO subproject with a total cost of Php4,014,622.91 will help boost the banana industry in the province especially in their production and marketing.

On the other hand, BUCARCO’s subproject will help abaca farmers in the province of Misamis Occidental in their processing industry with a subproject cost of Php 3,967,856.80.

Said subproject proposals will then be forwarded to the Project Support Office Mindanao for endorsement of No Objection Letter 1 (NOL 1).

RPAB members who are present during the said review are Department of Public Works and Highway Assistant Regional Director Rey Peter B. Gille, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council – 10 Chairman Edgardo D. Layug, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Representative Cathy B. Escuzar, and Department of Trade and Industry Representative Donna Jane D. Rojo.

Also present in the review are DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and the DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations and the DA-PRDP IREAP-10 Component Head Carmelita T. Bajarla, and representatives from the different components and units of DA-PRDP 10.#