The I-PLAN Component of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) MIMAROPA lent its expertise to select members of the Romblon Local Government Unit (LGU) and research staff of the Romblon State University (RSU) on the process of writing the Municipal Commodity Investment Plan (MCIP), from April 5-6, 2022.

An initiative organic to the MIMAROPA Region, the MCIP is outlined based on the DA-PRDP’s PCIP. Both documents detail a list of prioritized commodities (crops, livestock, and/or fishery), together with points for investment in every segment of the value chain.

Prior to the workshop, participants were given an overview of the MCIP during an online orientation conducted on February 4, 2022. This was then supplemented by a face-to-face training conducted in the RSU from April 5-6, 2022, where participants underwent capacity building, writing workshop, and a critique of their S.W.O.T. and prioritization outputs.

RSU President Dr. Merian Mani expressed their intent, on behalf of the university, to be part of the development of the Agricultural sector through the Province-led Agriculture and Fishery Expansion System (PAFES).

“We’re doing all of this because we want to be part of the change of the mindset in agriculture, in agri-fishery. So, the data that we will gather will be a very important input towards the creation or the crafting of the PCIP, which is part of the PAFES,” Dr. Mani said.

Dr. Mani added that through the workshop, they will be able to help include the right direction in the agri-fisheries sector, as they craft the Value Chain Analysis of the different commodities that will be identified.

DA-PRDP RPCO MIMAROPA I-PLAN Component Head Nex Basi expressed his gratitude to the RSU for offering their assistance in the crafting of the MCIP.

“Since ang RSU, ang ating mga universities and colleges, alam namin ang inyong capacity pagdating sa extension service, talagang mas sanay po kayo sa extension. [We’re] thankful po na ang tutulong sa amin sa Romblon ay taga-academe. After nitong orientation, kayo po ang mga kaagapay namin pagdating sa MCIP formulation or Crafting of MCIP ng ating mga LGUs dyan sa Romblon. Maraming maraming salamat sa RSU talagang na-appreciate naming ang inyong tulong, na ma-implement ang ating PAFES,” Basi said.

The final MCIPs that will be formed after this workshop shall be the basis for the PFAES. PAFES is a mechanism to integrate the DA’s programs and services to the Local Government Unit’s programs. This devolution is under the Mandanas Ruling and is aimed to begin this year. (Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

A Technical Staff from the Romblon State University guides the representatives of the San Jose Municipal Agriculturist’s Office in completing their SWOT analysis. (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

Representative from the Odiongan Municipal Agriculturist’s Office present their top three commodities during the critiquing session of the workshop, April 6. (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

Timoteo Borromeo, Jr., Planning Specialist, kicks off the first day of the program by giving the participants a refresher of their online orientation last February 4. (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

Participants of the Municipal Commodity Investment Plan Formulation Workshop during the opening program, April 5. (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)