With an increase in the number and cost of enterprise investments in CALABARZON, the enterprise development (I-REAP) component of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) ends the year of 2017 on a high note.

“We are happy with our achievements for the Project, and we remain committed to add more investments in the region. To do this, we need the cooperation of the local government units and civil societies,” PRDP CALABARZON I-REAP Component Head Editha Salvosa said.

In terms of subprojects, 2017 marked the increased coverage of I-REAP in CALABARZON when proposals from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas were approved. This is in contrast with the numbers in 2016 when I-REAP subprojects only came from the Quezon Province. To date, the Project partnered with ten local government units (LGUs) or provinces, cities, and municipalities for the 23 I-REAP subprojects in CALABARZON.

The total number of proponent groups also increased. From the initial seven organizations in 2016, it increased to 38 cooperatives and associations in 2017. They have combined total of 5,318 individual members. Among them are 3,466 women or 65.17% of the member-beneficiaries.

The cost of obligated funds for the region’s I-REAP subprojects increased by 15 percent from P3.2 million for seven subprojects in December 2016 to P21.1 million for nine subprojects in December 2017.

Seven microenterprises in calamity-stricken areas worth P5 million have started with the implementation stage. These subprojects are located in Quezon Province and are implemented by the proponent municipal and city LGUs. Seven organizations composed of 2,284 members will benefit from these ventures.

In terms of cost and number of subprojects, dairy-based subprojects have the highest increase. From one subproject in Laguna in 2016 to four subprojects including those from Batangas and Quezon provinces, dairy enterprises account for P40.5 million investments and will help 138 individuals from four cooperatives and federation.

I-REAP subprojects that cater to the seaweed industry also contributed a large chunk to the regional portfolio. In 2016, there is only one seaweed enterprise subproject in Quezon, while in 2017, it increased to four enterprises in Batangas and Quezon worth P28.93 million. Fourteen proponent groups with 346 members will benefit from the subprojects.

Two additional seaweed microenterprises in Agdangan, Quezon are already in the procurement stage. With funds from the Global Environment Facility, they will also help in the rehabilitation of the town’s Bahurang Silag Fish Sanctuary located in the Tayabas Bay. They will benefit six proponent groups and 222 members.

Five small- and medium-scale enterprises round up the list of the CALABARZON Region’s portfolio of I-REAP subprojects. The P28.95 million worth of subprojects are based on priority commodities such as coffee, cacao, mango, and banana.

The two coffee enterprises in Batangas and Cavite will help revitalize the coffee industry in the region. Led by two large coffee groups in their respective provinces, the enterprises are projected to help four organizations and 374 individuals. Meanwhile, the cacao processing enterprise in Luisiana, Laguna, the mango processing enterprise in Tanauan City, and the banana production enterprise in San Francisco, Quezon will each support three groups and 169 individuals.

I-REAP subprojects that support other priority commodities such as pineapple, lowland vegetables, livestock, poultry, and table eggs can also be proposed by interested proponent groups and LGUs. However, all proposals must be included in the region’s approved Value Chain Analysis and in the Provincial Commodity Investment Plans.

“Doing business especially in rural areas enables people to view their locality as something worth investing for. The more enterprises being put up in their area, the higher number of employment opportunities are there. The higher the employment opportunities, the higher the chance that abled individuals will stay in their community,” PRDP CALABARZON Regional Director Arnel de Mesa said.  ### (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)

Members of the Calumpang Corn Growers Association will soon harvest their white corns under the “Corn Production ‘Plant Now, Pay Later’ Scheme.” This is the first I-REAP subproject to be completed in CALABARZON and is an assistance to diaster affected areas.

The Samahan ng Magagagatas ng Batangas Cooperative (SAMABACO) willl increase their stock with genetically superior animals for dairy production. It is one of the four dairy cooperatives in CALABARZON with enterprise subprojects in PRDP.