Hope is brewing for the local coffee industry in Sta. Maria, Laguna as the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) IV-A reviewed and approved the proposed coffee enterprise subproject of the Juan Santiago Agriculture Cooperative (JSACOOP) for funding.

The RPAB, led by DA IV-CALABARZON OIC-Regional Director Milo delos Reyes and DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office IV-A Project Director Abelardo Bragas, joined by representatives from the local government of Sta. Maria and government agencies, approved a total of PhP10.4 million worth of funds for the subproject. It will be used to provide agricultural inputs, additional processing facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and other interventions to the JSACOOP to help them improve the production, processing, and marketing of their coffee, the income of local coffee farmers, and the economic activities in the locality.

Members of the JSACOOP and the local government of Sta. Maria, Laguna expressed their gratefulness and their commitment to implementing and completing the subproject. According to Sta. Maria Mayor Cindy Carolino, they will do their best to supplement the interventions provided under the DA-PRDP to improve and sustain the coffee enterprise and help more coffee farmers in the locality.

Regional Director Delos Reyes expressed that the subproject has great potential to further boost the coffee industry in the region as it will pave the way for more coffee farmers in far-flung areas to market their produce. He also advised the cooperative to undergo more trainings in coffee processing to continue evolving the quality of their product and truly bring out the best taste of the Sta. Maria coffee.                                                           

Also present in the activity were PRDP 4A Deputy Project Director Redelliza Gruezo, I-REAP Component Head Editha Salvosa, I-SUPPORT Component Head Felix Ramos, I-BUILD Component Head Joel Fuentes, Sta. Maria Vice Mayor Nor Briones, John Joseph Vasquez from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Ma. Surallah Rabino from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Emmanuel-Lee Lapitan from the Department of Trade and Industry, Maribeth Ramos from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and representatives from the local government of Sta. Maria and the JSACOOP.

DA Regional Field Office IV – CALABARZON Director Milo delos Reyes and DA PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office Project Director Engr. Abelardo Bragas led the review of the proposed subproject.

DA RFO 4A Director Milo delos Reyes signs the RPAB resolution approving the funds needed to implement the enterprise subproject of the JSACOOP.

Representatives from the JSACOOP presents an overview of their proposed enterprise subproject to the RPAB.

Representatives from the JSACOOP expressed their gratitude and commitment to successfully implement the enterprise subproject to the RPAB.