At least 14 micro-enterprise project proposals from Oriental Mindoro are finalized for submission to the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU), MIMAROPA Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) and PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) for the next Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) review by the end of the second quarter.

The RPCO 4B and South Luzon PSO on April 19–22, 2016 organized a micro-enterprise orientation and business plan writeshop in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. The four-day activity was attended by more than 60 participants comprising of proponent groups from the different municipalities in the province, members of the PPMIU, and representatives from the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU).

Manolo Luis Herrera, PSO I-REAP Component Head, explained their team’s goal to reach a level of confidence in all the business models. According to him, they will capture important information from the proponent groups to better understand their proposal, and eventually, find the right investment package for them.

“All [the proponent groups] need to do is to comply with the documents, package it properly, tapusin ng maayos ’yung write-up (finish the write-up accordingly), and there’s a great chance na talagang ma-aprubahan (that [the proposals] will be approved). So, we need your cooperation,” Herrera said during the activity’s open forum.

Provincial Agriculturist Christine Pine suggested that proponent groups who still have unfinished project proposals should ask assistance from the Provincial Agriculture Office, so the said office can identify what still needs to be done. She also explained that her office will have consultation meetings with the different Municipal Agricultural Officers for the required certifications regarding the counterpart funds. Other government offices such as the Provincial Engineering Office and Environmental and Natural Resources Office will also be invited for the compliance of the Social and Environmental Safeguards requirements.

“Hindi tayo nag-sayang ng apat na araw dito para sa wala. (We did not waste four days here for nothing.) We expect to have our proposals submitted, finalized, and approved,” Pine added while presenting the Oriental Mindoro action plan in coordination with the PLGU to comply with the target dates set by the RPCO and PSO.

Micro-enterprise projects have a maximum budget of one million pesos each and will be funded by the World Bank, the Department of Agriculture, and the Provincial or Municipal LGU. PRDP micro-enterprise projects generally aims to provide income-generating activities for farmers and fisher folks in calamity-affected areas. The provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon in Region 4B were affected by typhoons Lando and Nona. ### (Leira Vic Colongon, DA-PRDP RPCO 4B InfoACE Unit)