The Benguet Arabica Coffee Enterprise (BACE) engaged in a series of workshops early this year for the enhancement of its Operations Manual (OM).

Proposed by 11 farmer associations and cooperatives in Benguet who are engaged in coffee production and processing, the BACE seeks to strengthen and develop a viable Arabica coffee enterprise in the province and increase productivity and marketability of this coffee.

Earlier in 2016, members of the BACE proposed a P13-million plus coffee enterprise and sought funding from the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA PRDP), which was eventually approved.

Jocelyn Beray, I-REAP Component Head of the PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office – CAR (RPCO-CAR) underscored the importance of these activities saying that the already existing OM is to be enhanced in order to fit into the best implementation process of the BACE.

A two-day workshop was thus conducted to enhance the already crafted OM for BACE on February 2019 for the management staff and Board of Directors.

In this activity, topics such as empowering leaders and coping with change among others, were taken up.

Mercy Rocetes, National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) I-REAP Component Head who served as principal lecturer, reminded the participants that leaders need to come together and talk about how this enterprise is to run effectively and efficiently.

“It’s hard to just set standards for your group if you don’t talk it over and come up with solid agreements, and place it in writing,” Rocetes said.

Lorna Panyo, consultant of the I-REAP component, said that the output of these workshops will still be presented to other officers and affiliates of the BACE for their affirmation, then submitted to proper channels for final approval.

“The operations manual is relevant in reminding BACE officers and management to reliably and efficiently perform their tasks with consistent results to achieve their goal of increasing their income,” said Panyo. ###Mabel Zabala, RPCO-CAR InfoACE