Following the issuance of a No Objection Letter (NOL), a groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 10, 2018 to mark the start of the construction of the tomato consolidation facility, the civil works component of the Salad Tomato Production and Marketing Enterprise by the Hundred Islands Farmpreneurs Association in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

With a total project cost of Php1.9 million, the consolidation facility is expected to increase the income of salad tomato growers by reducing postharvest losses and help stabilize the price of tomato in the market.

The consolidation facility can hold 175 crates or 3.5 MT of salad tomatoes with a floor area of 66 m². The facility will serve tomato growers during the harvest season of salad tomatoes or from January to May. For the rest of the year, the consolidation facility will serve as flatbed dryer for rice farmers.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, 57 packs of tomato seeds and plastic crates were also distributed to the members of the HIFA. The tomato seeds are part of the production inputs provided for the salad tomato enterprise.

IBUILD Alternate Component Head Engr. Eleanor L. Blanco represented the Regional Project Coordination Office 1 (RPCO 1) during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Including the consolidation facility, the Salad Tomato Production and Marketing Enterprise has a total project cost of Php6,406,519.50 with the proponent group equity. In the coming months, the HIFA will also receive a Php2.1-million delivery truck, Php418,740 trading capital, plastic mulch, seedling trays, potting medium, and nylon wires. ### (Dessa U. Estrada, RPCO 1 InfoACE)