Well-written business plans are essential in attaining successful subprojects. With this in mind, the Luzon A – Program Support Office (PSO), in collaboration with the I-REAP Component of Regional Project Coordination Office 3 (RPCO3), held a Business Plan Review and Writeshop for the I-REAP Subprojects last April 6-10 at the Venezia Hotel in Subic, Zambales. The Provincial Project Management Implementing Units (PPMIUs) and the proponent groups of Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales attended the 5-day intensive review and writeshop.

William Valdez, I-REAP Component Head of RPCO3, said that the conduct of such event is important, for business plans are highly critical for the approval of proposed subprojects. “This review is an effective avenue in analysing every aspect of business plans,” said Valdez. “Well-crafted business plans increase the chance of the approval and funding of proposed subprojects.”

Each provinces was given a day to present their respective business plans. The province of Bataan first presented their business plan for the establishment of ice plant with cold storage, which is intended for the commodity of the province that is sardines. Bataan was followed by Nueva Ecija, presenting the business plans for the farm mechanization custom services and the consolidation and marketing, both projected for onion. Zambales followed suit, presenting their business plan for the establishment of a trading center for mango, followed by the business plan for the establishment of post-harvest facilities and storage for dried sweet potato presented by Tarlac. The proponent group of Aurora presented last their business plan for the establishment of processing facilities for coir and coir by-products.

Members from the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), the Luzon APSO, and the RPCO3 critiqued the presented business plans. Bernard Panimbatan, PSO I-REAP Business Development Specialist, and Patrick Belisario, consultant of the I-REAP Component of NPCO,led the critiquing, wherein several vital comments and improvements were pointed out, such as the incorporation of appropriate accounting statement, deletion of irrelevant statements, and the proper documentation of important records and credentials. (Mark Erron San Mateo)

I-REAP Component Head William Valdez expresses the value of well-crafted subproject business plans during the Review and Writeshop held last April 6-10, 2015

MaricelDullasof I-REAP RPCO 3 points out some aspects of the business plan that require revision during the I-REAP Business Plans Review and Writeshop conducted last April 6-10, 2015