May 15, 2015

Planners and proponent groups from the six provinces of Bicol and Naga City were equipped for smooth business planning process to avail of Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) investments during the Regional Business Planning Workshop and Technical Review held at the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research System (RIARS) Training Center in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur on May 12-14, 2015.

PRDP’s Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) team from Project Support Office South Luzon and Regional Project Coordination Office V (RPCO V) headed by Manolo Luis Herrera and Adelina A. Losa, respectively, conducted a review of pre-work assignments and oriented the participants about the I-REAP process flow and requirements. Herrera also lectured on how business plans are reviewed.

He said that business plans must clearly state the proposed enterprise’s vision and objectives, market analysis, products and services, and target customers. Additionally, they must provide data about the supply of raw materials, product and process flow, capability of the proponent group to deliver goals, and other stakeholders involved. Instruments and strategies used to secure volume and market and financial plan must also be discussed in the business plans.

“The financial plan should tell the story of the enterprise without reading the rest of the business plan,” he underscored.

Herrera also coached the participants on financial planning which includes production schedule, profit assumption, and cost assumption preparation.

The I-REAP team reviewed the proposed Abaca Fiber Processing and Marketing Enterprises of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur’s Coconut Sap Sugar Processing, and Sorsogon Pili Integrated Enterprises. Likewise, it provided recommendations and technical assistance to Albay and Camarines Norte’s Provincial Project Management and Implementing Units (PPMIUs) who are planning to pursue pili resin or elemi oil processing and queen pineapple juice manufacturing as second enterprise, respectively. Similarly, Masbate’s draft proposal on goat breeding and fattening and Naga City’s initial plan for pili nut processing were also critiqued.

According to Cecilia F. Burgos, PPMIU-Masbate I-REAP Component Head, her team learned everything they need to know during the three-day workshop thus, they were able to come up with a draft business plan. PPMIU-Masbate will conduct a PRDP orientation for proponent groups on May 22, 2015 and will continue with their business plan preparation.

Romeo S. Aquino of PPMIU-Catanduanes agreed saying that the business planning workshop and technical review clarified I-REAP issues and concerns necessary in the province’s business plan finalization. He plans to initiate a meeting with the proponent group and conduct a dry run on May 15, 2015.

Honorino A. Penolio of Naga City Project Management and Implementing Unit (CPMIU) stated that the I-REAP activity gave him direction in the city’s PRDP undertaking.

“In Naga City, it is a challenge for us to accomplish the project but we believe that it’s an additional service to the people especially to the farmers and entrepreneurs. This will help expand our services,” he remarked.

Moreover, Herrera said that the business planning workshop and technical review enabled the PPMIUs and CPMIU to share experiences and best practices because they are at different levels of business plan completion. Nevertheless, he encouraged them to do their own independent data gathering to compensate for the lack of data and proceed with the proponent group profiling in their provinces.

He added that I-REAP’s goal is to issue No Objection Letter 1 to Agro-industrial Enterprise Development sub-projects (SPs) by June 30, 2015 as they want goods and works to be procured by the end of the year and projects to be on the ground by the end of 2015.

A joint clusterwide technical review will be conducted by the National Project Coordination Office and PSO South Luzon on May 25-29, 2015 at Manila Grand Opera Hotel in Sta. Cruz, Manila to identify I-REAP SPs that will be endorsed for the Regional Project Advisory Board’s (RPAB) approval to qualify for NOL 1 issuance.

I-REAP is one of PRDP’s four major components aimed at developing strong, viable, and up-scaled agri-fishery based enterprises through production and market support facilities installation towards raising farmers’ income in targeted project areas. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFIS 5)

PSO South Luzon Business Development Consultant Manolo Luis Herrera discusses how business plans are reviewed.

RPCO V Business Development Officer Victoria Eugene S. Florece assists PPMIU-Masbate during the Regional Business Planning Workshop and Technical Review held at the RIARS Training Center in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur on May 12-14, 2015.