After receiving a no objection notice from the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), the value chain analysis (VCA) of purple yam was presented to the local chief executives of Benguet on August 2, 2016 at the Department of Agriculture Conference Hall, Guisad, Baguio City.

As the main reference document in preparing Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIPs), RPCO-CAR I-PLAN Component Head Susan D. Balanza said that the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) can now update their PCIPs incorporating specific opportunities and interventions identified in the VCA.

Upon the approval of the updated PCIP, it shall in turn stipulate subprojects for possible assistance and funding from the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) as well as from other agencies for the development of the purple yam industry in the province.

Being the major producing province of purple yam in the region, it was identified as one of the priority commodities of Benguet that will be supported under the PRDP. Though considered as a minor commodity in the Cordillera Region, the VCA noted yam as having   high potential industrial food value as well as a promising commercial value both in the domestic and export market.

To date, the VCAs of other prioritized commodities in Benguet such as coffeeand white potato are awaiting for NOL1 issuance from the NPCO. (Elvy S. Taquio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE)