Palayan City, NUEVA ECIJA – The Mango Processing Center amounting to P8.7 million is deemed ‘substantially complete’.

Part of the project cost amounting to P4.5 million was allotted for the civil works of the subproject.

The recent inspection for the civil works conducted by the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 3) together with the Project Support Office (PSO) on May 31, 2021 recorded 95% in its physical accomplishment.

With the use of innovative processing technologies in the Mango Processing Center, unmarketable mangoes from mango growers and farmers will be bought by the cooperative and will be processed into mango juice, vinegar and wine.

The finished products will be marketed to schools, offices, local retailers and caterers in the city and nearby areas to help promote the health and nutritional benefits of mango by-products.

Set to be the prime mango processing center, the Palayan City Mango Growers Association (PCMGA) is optimistic that this project is the solution for the growing demand from consumers in their city and hopefully in the entire province.

It also noted that the PCMGA will undergo training to enhance food safety procedures and operations management, likewise with the proper care and maintenance of the facility upon its turnover.

This project, under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) is seen to support mango growers and farmers in Nueva Ecija to help boost productivity and provide farmers with better earnings.

Present during the inspection are RPCO 3 I-BUILD Rural Infrastructure Engineer Bon Alexis Guatato, RPCO 3 Geomapping and Governance Unit GIS Data Officer Alvin Mariano, RPCO 3 Social and Environmental Safeguards Associate Prince Roy Cruz, RPCO 3 I-BUILD Project Development Associate Roel Yadao, RPCO 3 I-REAP Business Development Officer Glory Ann Herrera, RPCO 3 I-REAP Project Development Associate Danilo Ramoso and PSO I-BUILD Rural Infrastructure Engineer Shiedel Delicano. (MA. REINA LEN G. LUNA, RPCO3 InfoACE)