by Ram Bill G. Bautista, RPCO3 InfoACE

The Villar Bar Primary Multipurpose Cooperative (PMPC) from Llanera, Nueva Ecija and Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) from San Jose City, Nueva Ecija went through a business plan preparation and workshop for their respective proposed enterprise subprojects under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project  (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up on February 11-14 in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

The DA-PRDP Central Luzon Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 3), with the assistance of the proponent group’s respective LGUs, led by the enterprise development component, I-REAP, provided technical assistance to the proponent groups to build their capacity to implement an enterprise supported by the project. 

The Villa Bar PMPC is currently drafting the business plan and processing other necessary documents for their proposal of the establishment of a Php72-million post-harvest enterprise for aromatic rice. This proposed enterprise is expected to address the local farmers’ lack of access to common service facilities and reduce the cost of transporting goods to facilities which are located outside the town. The subproject would also see the provision of four-wheel tractors and combined harvesters.

On the other hand, the Kalasag MPC is preparing the parameters needed in their business plan and other documentary requirements for an Php125-million onion cold storage enterprise. This facility is set to empower their onion growers in selling their produce at a profitable price. 

This activity is one of the capacity building programs provided by the DA-PRDP prior to subproject implementation. The business plan is used to determine the viability of the proposal which would be the basis for financing the proposed enterprise subprojects under the DA-PRDP. It contains detailed description of the subproject and marketing, operational, and financial plans. 

As of this writing, the RPCO 3 has three I-REAP subprojects under rigorous review valued at a total of Php273 million for the PRDP Scale-Up. It includes the Php89-million dairy processing and marketing enterprise being proposed by the Eastern PMPC from San Jose City. These proposed enterprises are all set to be subject for deliberation by the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) within the first semester of 2025.