The Beckes-Bulala-Talete Ube Farmers Association (BBTUFA) in Sablan, Benguet can now fully operate their enterprise subproject on Ubi Production and Marketing after it was formally turned over to them last February 10. 

Held at barangay Bayabas in the municipality of Sablan, members and officers of the BBTUFA convened to celebrate the completion and turnover of their enterprise subproject under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP). Also turned over to them was the mini warehouse that was funded under the DA-CAR Rice Program. 

Officials from the municipal LGU of Sablan, representatives from the DA, and from the Good Shepherd, among others, were present during the turnover ceremony.

In his message, Sablan Mayor Alfredo B. Dacumos, Jr. acknowledged the efforts of the BBTUFA to acquire interventions from the national government to help their fellow farmers. 

“Bantayan tayo, simpaen tayo dagitoy nga naawat yo from the national government ket pagtitinulungan mi met iti munisipyo ti Sablan nga mangkita ti daduma pay nga pagsayaatan para ti development ti agriculture ditoy Sablan, (Let us protect and take good care of these projects. At the same time, we will help our local farmers with other ways and means to development agriculture in Sablan Town),” the mayor said. 

DA-PRDP Regional I-REAP Component Head Jocelyn W. Beray gave a brief overview of the BBTUFA’s enterprise subproject and challenged the association to look back into their Business Plan, and operate it to fulfill the objectives of their enterprise.

As she accepts the turnover certificates, BBTUFA President Myrcita C. Basilio expressed her gratitude to the DA-PRDP and to the members of BBTUFA who helped them complete their projects. 

“Naragsak kami la unay nga mang akseptar kadagitoy nga bendisyon nga inpaay yo. Na challenge kami ti PRDP ket inkarkarigatan mi tapnu macomply amin nga requirements ket salamat iti amin nga tinmultulong (We are happy to receive these interventions. We are challenged by the thrust of PRDP and to us and we will to our best to comply with all the requirements to manage the interventions. We also thank all who helped and supported us),” expressed Basilio. 

Together with the members of the BBTUFA, Basilio further committed to take good care of the interventions they received so that it can also be passed on to the next generations to come. 

For the operation of their enterprise, the BBTUFA received 20 units hole digger, 20 units knapsack sprayer, 20 rolls tie wire, 20 units dig bar, 7 units collapsible tent, 150 pcs crates, 4 units shredders, 20 pcs woven basket (kayabang), weighing scale, 20 units batulang/gamata, ubi setts worth PhP724,500.00 and a working capital amounting to PhP268,960.00.

With the additional goods to support their ube enterprise, Basilio now looks forward for increased productivity and that more ube farmers will be served through the enterprise. ### Elvy T. Estacio (Writer, DA-PRDP RPCO-CAR)