For three years of pre-implementation of the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Project, the Tunay Tapat Lahing Pilipino Cooperative (TTLPC) Chairperson Josias Pedrocello faced the challenge of explaining to his members that the subproject is real and worth the wait.

“Karamihan sa mga kasamahan namin nagduwa-duwa na pero walang dahilan para mag-quit (Most of our members are having second thoughts, but there is no reason for us to quit),” he shared.

Pedrocello represents the proponent group who will benefit from the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP’s) pilot enterprise development (I-REAP) subproject in Bicol—the P7.68 million-worth Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise in Libon, Albay. The subproject will be implemented as a community-based enterprise wherein manufacturing process shall be undertaken by rural women and families in the community.

The subproject will also engage coconut farmers in the 30 barangays of the municipality as source of raw materials and labor providers. The said enterprise is projected to generate at least 900 new jobs for the TTLPC members and the community as direct and indirect workers with an additional or potential daily wage worth P75 to P250. The I-REAP subproject will also supplement the income of 1,100 coconut farmers who will supply husks to the enterprise.

After the Pre-Construction Conference for the 150-square meter coco geonets processing warehouse worth P1.88 million on March 16, Pedrocello is confident that finally, the TTLPC members and the Libon community will have a tangible proof of the government’s support to them.

TTLPC Chairperson Josias Pedrocello (foreground) listens to PRDP Bicol Infrastructure Development (I-BUILD) Component Head Arnie Ilan (standing) as the latter discusses the organization of construction supervision ream and the pre-construction activities during the Pre-Construction Conference for the Coco Geonets Processing Warehouse held on March 16 in Camalig, Albay. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

“Ito na talaga ang pighalat na maumpisahan. Sa wakas maipapaabot mi sainda na matutuloy ang programa na ito (We have been waiting for this project to start. Finally, we can relay to them [the community] that the government will push the project through,” Pedrocello said.

While waiting for the approval of the I-REAP subproject, TTLPC conducted a dry-run operation of the enterprise and started planting coconut trees. In 2014, they also built a temporary warehouse. However, it was damaged by Typhoon Nina which devastated Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes on December 25, 2016.

Pedrocello said that the coco geonets manufacturing warehouse will be very beneficial to TTLPC. The warehouse to be constructed in Sitio La Medalla in Libon will feature an office space and a stockroom. It is also designed to reduce product spoilage, prevent the deterioration of the machine, and secure the decorticating machine, twining machines, sieving machine, weaving machine, and heavy duty weighing scale.

Rafaelita Nicoleta, I-REAP Component Head of the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU) of Albay, also expressed her gratitude to the Project.

“At least we could show to the proponent group that the project is a reality to help the poor at the barangay level. I am so positive that our objective to increase by five percent the proponent group’s income will be realized and of course, income of the farmers will also increase,” she said.

Sherryl Balinquit of ALXM Construction, the winning bidder for the subproject, assured the Management and the beneficiaries that the contractor will do the best to fully and validly comply with the Project design and documentary requirements.

The Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise is Bicol’s first I-REAP subproject to receive the No Objection Letters 1 and 2 or the notices to proceed with the procurement and with the construction). ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)  

In photo is the floor plan for the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise’s 150-square-meter coco geonets warehouse to be constructed in Brgy. Bonbon, Libon, Albay. (Photo credit: PPMIU-ALBAY I-BUILD)