The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) through the Project Support Office (PSO) has issued No Objection Letter 2 (NOL2) to nine micro enterprise subprojects on Cattle Fattening and Marketing in Villaviciosa, Abra.

These enterprise subprojects will be implemented by nine Proponent Groups (PGs): Tamac Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Lumaba Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Bol-lilising Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Cal-lao Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Ap-apaya Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Kaltawan Poblacion Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Dungyasan Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., Tuquib Villaviciosa Farmers Association, Inc., and Tamac Reforestation and Tocbacco Farmers Credit Cooperative.

Having been issued with NOL2, the MLGU of Villaviciosa which is the procuring entity for the subprojects can now proceed with the awarding of contracts to the winning bidders.

Aside from augmenting the losses incurred in the farmers’ affected crops caused by Typhoon Lando way back October 2015, the micro enterprise subprojects will also activate the local economy on the continuous production and supply of beef and beef by-products and increase household income by at least 5% after one production cycle.

With project costs amounting to one million pesos each, the micro enterprises will provide 33 heads of male upgraded Brahman as Feeder Stocks ranging from two to three years old. It will be distributed to eligible farmer-members of the PGs specifically those affected by typhoon Lando for fattening and marketing for at least six to eight months after purchase. It will be distributed with assistance from the MLGU through its Municipal Agriculture Office.

To sustain the projects, the total acquisition value of each enterprise shall be retained at the association to purchase stocks for other members to benefit and a one percent off gross sales shall be charged by the association as part of their capital build-up.### (Elvy S. Taquio, DA-PRDP CARPCO InfoACE Unit)