“We have the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to introduce reforms. This is the way the Project is designed–to change the way we do business. Kung mapapansin ninyo, hindi lang kami namigay, may kasamang mga capability-building activities. We are one with you na maging viable and sustainable ang inyong enterprise.” This is the assertion of PRDP I-REAP Alternate Unit Head Leny Pecson to the proponent groups and provincial project partners from Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes during the Training on the Operations Manual (OM) Formulation held on August 2-3, 2016 in Pili, Camarines Sur.

The said training aims to capacitate the proponent groups with approved agro-industrial development enterprise (I-REAP) sub-projects in formulating their OM as well as set policies and procedures that will complement the cooperatives’ current operation.

According to Pecson, the OM will be very useful in the enterprise’s implementation because it will serve as an authoritative guidebook to help them in managing their business. National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) Enterprise Development and Marketing Specialist Charito A. Cadorna added that the OM will create a standard for their enterprise, guarantee better trained employees, and facilitate enterprise upgrading thus, adding its value.

Cadorna also discussed McKinsey’s 7S Framework which highlights the elements of an effective organization including shared vision and values, structure, strategy, system, staff, skills and style. She also assisted the proponent groups in vision statement formulation and in conducting the vision-reality gap analysis.

PRDP-Bicol I-REAP Component Head Adelina A. Losa expressed her hope that the approved I-REAP enterprise sub-projects be implemented without further delay. Similarly, Lily E. Rebosano, president of the Samahang Organic Fair Trade Coconut Farmers Bicol Quezon (SOFACOFA-BQ) is expectant that the P7.6 million-worth Coco Geonet Production Project in Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte will start soon. She said that the project will raise their farmer-members’ income and encourage them to keep following their cooperative’s organic farming policies.

Other approved I-REAP sub-projects in Bicol are the P5.8 million-worth Camarines Sur Coco Sap Sugar Processing in Baao, Camarines Sur, the P26.6 million-worth Camarines Norte Pineapple Trading and Processing Project in Labo, Camarines Norte, and the P7.6 million-worth Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Project in Libon, Albay. Awaiting No Objection Letter is the Abaca Processing and Trading Enterprise in Virac, Catanduanes worth around P22.5 million. These I-REAP sub-projects are projected to benefit about 10,745 farmer-members.

I-REAP is one of the four components of PRDP, designed to establish efficient value chains of key agricultural and fishery products in targeted project areas by developing and strengthening agri-fishery based enterprises.

PRDP is a six-year development project being implemented by the Department of Agriculture for an inclusive, value-chain oriented and climate-resilient agri-fishery sector. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

NPCO Enterprise Development and Marketing Specialist Charito A. Cadorna (center, in long sleeve top) assists the Samahang Organic Fair Trade Coconut Farmers Bicol Quezon (SOFACOFA-BQ) in formulating the cooperative’s Operations Manual. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza)