The Anabel-Sadanga Multipurpose Cooperative’s (ASMPC) Heirloom Rice Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject is seen to increase farmers’ income in Sadanga, Mountain Province.

Under the Enterprise Development (I-REAP) component of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), the ASMPC will soon upgrade their heirloom rice processing venture with the procurement of a rice mill, a hauling truck, and a P426,200.00trading capital for the purchase of palay from the members of the ASMPC.

In total, the enterprise has a project cost of P9.16 million (M) funded under the DA-PRDP on a cost-sharing scheme- 60% came from World Bank loan proceeds, with counterpart funding from the DA (20%), the provincial local government unit (20%), and another 20 percent equity from the proponent group (PG).

As part of the enterprise project, a processing center will be established in Anabel, Sadanga, which will also serve as a trading center for heirloom rice.

On September 30, 2020, GovernorBonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. and Vice-Gov. Francis O. Tauli turned over the first tranche release of the PRDP grant in the amount of P 945,000 to the ASMPC through Manager Ester Rose Chao-angan for the procurement of a rice mill. Several PLGU personnel and other officers and members of the cooperative witnessed the turnover.

Mary Jane S. Tumapang, I-REAP Focal Person of the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) and assistant department head of the Provincial Agriculture Office, said that the amount for the purchase of a rice mill and a vehicle will be given per tranche.

“The amount of P1.8M for the purchase of a hauling truck including palays will soon be given after the rice mill will be bought,” said Tumapang.

In his message, Governor Lacwasan said that the realization of the enterprise subproject will surely boost the income of local rice farmers. He further thanked the DA- Regional Field Office-CAR (DA-RFO-CAR) and the DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR for the interventions in support to the livelihood activities of farmers in Mountain Province.

Further, the governor assured that the provincial government as the project’s implementing partner will continuously support the development of livelihood projects in the province.

Vice Governor Tauli expressed optimism that once the project is completed, more farmers will gain interest in producing heirloom rice and that with the PRDP grant, the productivity of the local farmers’ rice produce will increase.

Meanwhile, PRDP Business Development Officer Lorna Panyo said in an interview that the procurement of goods and the construction of a processing facility will definitely upgrade the existing heirloom rice processing activities of ASMPC which will directly benefit heirloom rice farmers within Sadanga and its neighboring municipalities.

Given the rigorous approval process of subprojects under the PRDP, Tumapang encouraged the members of the cooperative to value the fruit of their labors and to take care of the enterprise as it will ultimately be for the common good – boosting the economic conditions of the farmers in Sadanga. ### ERWIN S. BATNAG (Mountain Province PIO)