KORONADAL CITY- A multi-million proposed sub-project that will boost the rubber production in Region 12 was approved by the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). 

The Expansion of Rubber Production, Processing and Marketing Subproject, proposed by the North Cotabato Rubber Development Cooperation (NOCORDECO), was recently given a nod by the RPAB in Koronadal City.

With this, the proponent group (PG), will proceed to the next step which is the compliance of other requirements to the Project Support Office Mindanao for the issuance of the No Objection Letter (NOL). 

The subproject, which has an approved amount of 50 Million Pesos, will benefit 900 rubber farmers in the municipalities of M’lang, Matalam, Antipas, Magpet, Arakan, President Roxas and Tulunan.

Maximo M. Casulocan Jr., chairman of NOCORDECO, said that the approval is a precious prize to their effort and tireless preparation of the business plan and other requirements.

“We are glad that with all the sacrifices we are now a few inches closer to the full implementation of our project,” he added.

The chairman said that the average of 350 kilos of rubber cuplump produced by their members per hectare is not sufficient to the needs of their market.

With the subproject, more farmers will be engaged in the income producing activities of the cooperative.

Moreover, he added that from 30 hectares of production area utilized by the coop for their rubber crump production, the subproject will allow them to include 400 hectares of rubber plantation.    

The RPAB meeting was spearheaded by RPAB Chairman and Project Director Dennis Arpia and was participated by other RPAB members in the person of RAFC Chair Eduardo Castin and representatives from other national agencies such as Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Mindanao Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, National Commission on Indigenous People and Department of Interior and Local Government. 

RPAB members reminded the Provincial/Municipal Project Management Implementing Unit and the PG that all the suggestions must be incorporated in their proposal together with the requirements that need to be complied for the project before the submission for the issuance of the NOL. (CULAguillon)