Three agricultural enterprise subprojects on swine, corn, and coconut are set to be implemented soon in Batangas and Quezon as these were approved for funding by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project ( DA-PRDP) Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) CALABARZON. These subprojects are the corn grains terminal of the Soro-soro Ibaba Development Cooperative in Batangas City, Batangas, swine production and marketing of the Luntian Multi-purpose Cooperative in San Antonio, Quezon, and the coconut mill of the Crofisliv Association in San Juan, Batangas.

The RPAB, led by DA Regional Field Office CALABARZON Regional Director Milo delos Reyes, DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) Project Director Engr. Abelardo Bragas, and Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council Chairman Pedrito Kalaw, approved PhP271.12 million for the SIDC subproject, PhP124.26 million for the Luntian Multipurpose Cooperative, and PhP49.77 million for the Crofisliv Association. These funds will come from the DA-PRDP, the government of the Philippines, and the counterpart of the proponent groups who will implement and sustain the projects.

“We are very hopeful for these projects as these will boost productivity, livelihood, and employment in the agriculture sector amid the ongoing inflation. Magsisilbi din itong pag-asa sa mga maliliit na magsasaka sa bansa dahil may mapapagbentahan na sila ng kanilang mga produce dahilan para magpatuloy at sumigla ang food production sa rehiyon,” Project Director Bragas shared.

All groups expressed their gratitude to the RPAB and the DA-PRDP. They assured the board that they will do their best to achieve their set goals and objectives and sustain their enterprise subprojects.

DA4A Regional Director and PRDP 4A RPAB Chairman Milo delos Reyes signs the board resolutions approving the proposals of the proponent groups.

Luntian Multipurpose Cooperative Chairman and General Manager discusses their plans for their proposed swine production and marketing enterprise to the RPAB.

PRDP 4A Geotagging and Governance Unit also presented the geotagged location of the proposed corn grains facility of the SIDC to the board.

The RPAB review was led by PRDP4A Project Director Engr. Abelardo Bragas, DA4A Regional Director Milo delos Reyes, and Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council Chairman Pedrito Kalaw.

RPAB representative from DAR Ceferina Parle comments on the projected return on investment of the proposed enterprise of the Luntian Multipurpose Cooperative.

Soro-soro Ibaba Development Cooperative representative explains the operations of their corn processing facility.

President of the Crofisliv Association presented their proposed coconut mill which can potentially boost the coconut industry in San Juan, Batangas.