MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN – Working on firming up the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) for the province of Camiguin, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) conducts an orientation and updating workshop to the key officials of the province on February 23, 2023.

Local officials include the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Offices, Provincial Project Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Project Management Implementing Unit (PPMIU), Municipal Planning Development Coordinator (MPDC), Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and Municipal Agriculturists (MA).

The workshop for PCIP contains the basic data of the priority commodity per municipality such as type of crop, the area planted, number of farmers, poverty incidence, vulnerability, and suitability among others that will guide in the prioritization of the program, and projects to address the national sustainability goals of poverty reduction and zero hunger.

In order to further enhance the capabilities of the participants in PCIP preparation, each municipality was given one commodity to work with and discuss the Expanded Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (EVSA), needed intervention, and the commodity Value Chain Analysis (VCA) of the assigned commodity that include lanzones, banana cardaba, cacao, coconut, and cassava for Mambajao, Catarman, Mahinog, Sagay, and Guinsiliban, respectively.

With the exercise, the participants will be equipped with the skills in the preparation of the full-blown PCIP which will then serve as the basis of DA in providing interventions to the province that includes projects to be funded under PRDP.

The output of this workshop will be finalized and consolidated for presentation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approval.

Meanwhile, OIC-Regional Executive Director and RPCO-10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado said that Camiguin will be prioritized considering that it is the only province in Northern Mindanao without a DA-PRDP subproject.

“Provinces who have not yet availed of the projects under DA-PRDP are given priority and Camiguin is one of them. I am encouraging the LGUs to finalize their PCIP for this would be the basis for the approval of project proposals,” said RED Collado.

He also encouraged the participants to consider other commodities, such as agri-fishery and livestock, that will bring potential development for the province and not limit to the five commodities identified.

For his closing remarks, SP committee chair on agriculture Dr. Louis S. Bollozos encouraged the participants to fast track the finalization of the PCIP for approval of the SP.

He further stressed considering the needs of the province in the preparation of the project proposals.

“Our PCIP will serve as our passport to gain funding support from the PRDP Scaling Up projects. Let us work together for the approval of our project proposals,” said Bollozos. # (MGBStaElena | RPCO 10)