Tunay Tapat Lahing Pilipino Cooperative, the proponent group for the Province of Albay’s pilot enterprise development (I-REAP) sub-project, started its dry run operation of the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Project in May 2014. According to TTLPC Chairman Josias B. Pedrocello, during the trial period, the project provided the cooperative’s farmer-members with an opportunity to earn a stable income. This enabled them to pay their cyclical credits from lending agencies.

TTLPC farmer-members carry a sack of decorticated coconut husks which got wet because of the sudden downpour. The cooperative is expecting the construction of a 150 square meter warehouse, designed to minimize losses due to bad weather, avoid machine deterioration and guarantee equipment security in October 2016. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

On May 12, 2015, TTLPC received its No Objection Letter 1 issuance. With it came trainings on sub-project procurement, PG assessment and formulation of Operations Manual as well as simplified financial management.

According to Pedrocello, during the one year and four months period of waiting, there were instances that TTLPC had to stop its operation. This is mainly because the decorticating machine, lent by Juboken Enterprises Inc., a coir processing plant in Lower Gapo Camalig, Albay, is sometimes faulty or unavailable. TTLPC anticipates the procurement of decorticating machines, twining machines, sieving machine, weaving machine, and a heavy duty weighing scale. They are also set to receive a truck which they can use in hauling coconut husks from remote barangays of Libon and Oas.

He added that due to the delay, some of the trained members have started thinking that the project was a hoax. “Nung huminto din kami gawa ng paputol-putol na yung operation namin, yung iba nagalit na kasi akala nila inumpisahan lang namin, hindi naman pala susundin,” he said.

Yet, Pedrocello stay focused on the vision of having more farmer-beneficiaries whose lives will be changed with the support coming from PRDP.

“Nakita po namin yung maramihang matutulungan nitong proyekto. Kung darating ang project na ito mas marami ang makikinabang,” he said.

On September 21, 2016, TTLPC’s patience has finally paid off as the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) is now working on the issuance of the No Objection Letter 2 for the P7.68 million-worth Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise in Libon, Albay.

In a Management Meeting with the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Albay, PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon Director Shandy M. Hubilla urged the province’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and the PRDP-Bicol’s procurement team to fast track the purchase of the enterprise’s goods and equipment, particularly the decorticating machines in order to resume the dry run operation in Libon, Albay and to jumpstart the I-REAP sub-project there. PRDP also targets to begin the construction of the 150 square meter warehouse, which is designed to reduce losses, avoid machine deterioration and ensure equipment security in October 2016.

PPMIU-Albay Head Engr. Macario M. Pavia presents the status of Albay’s I-BUILD and I-REAP sub-projects during a Management Meeting with PRDP South Luzon and Bicol staff held in Albay Capitol on September 21, 2016. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

PRDP PSO South Luzon Director Shandy M. Hubilla (2nd from left) surveys the area where the 150 square meter warehouse for the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Project will be constructed. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

Hubilla, along with the PRDP South Luzon and PRDP-Bicol I-REAP and procurement staff, visited the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Project’s site to evaluate its situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, Engr. Elmer de Ala of PPMIU-Albay’s infrastructure development (I-BUILD) component announced that the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Pistola-Tablon Road with 3 Units Bridges is on track. Albay’s I-BUILD team targets to complete the 15,030.20 linear meter farm-to-market road by January 20, 2017 and the three units bridges by February 2017. Hubilla instructed the PRDP-Bicol’s I-BUILD team to validate the 75 percent reported physical accomplishment of the FMR. Moreover, he provided guidance to facilitate the downloading of the 15 percent mobilization fee.

Rehabilitation/Improvement of Pistola-Tablon Road with 3 Units Bridges in Oas, Albay is on track with 75.56 percent physical accomplishment as of September 15, 2016.

The P197.4 million-worth I-BUILD sub-project in Oas, Albay will provide easy access to 10 coconut-producing barangays, allow farmers to generate 50 percent reduction in agricultural outputs’ cost, and reduce post-harvest losses by 9 percent for copra, 6.5 percent for rice and 12 percent for corn.

PRDP is a six-year project designed to impact the rural communities nationwide by investing in a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented and cimate-smart agri-fihsery sector. ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)