A total of P21.67 million of support has been poured by PRDP to farmer beneficiaries in Davao City led by two (2) Proponent Groups one from Tawan-tawan Multi-Purpose Cooperative on the “Tablea Processing and Marketing Enterprise”, and the Tapak Farmers Marketing Cooperative on the Abaca Processing and Marketing Enterprise. 

More doors of opportunities opened for cacao farmers in Davao City after it was declared the cacao capital of the Philippines and to that end, PRDP also provided assistance so cacao farmers Calinan, Davao City can process their own tablea.

The enterprise aims to alleviate poverty by providing a sustainable and profitable operation through quality products for their clients and the community. It also aims to increase members’ annual income through the production of tablea for domestic and the export market in the future. 

The “Table Processing and Marketing Enterprise” subproject worth P8.19 million subproject with PG Equity is expected to provide support to 207 individual beneficiaries. The package includes one (1) unit multi-purpose van, motorcycle, roasting maching, cacao sheller with winnower, multi-purpose grinder, paster grinder, chiller, and other input provisions for processing. 

Meanwhile, PRDP recently turned over P3.8 million worth of machinery to Tapak Farmers Marketing Cooperative for their “Abaca Processing and Marketing” subproject as part of the first tranche. Out of the said amount, P2.3 million was under the loan program of the Project while the remaining amount was allocated by both the government and the Davao City government as their counterpart. 

The total approved cost for this abaca subproject is P13.4 million which will include the construction of four (4) postharvest facilities particularly storage and solar dryer with eight stripping machines in Paquibato’s four production clusters in Tapak Proper, Butay, Mangani, and Panlawayan. 

A tractor will also be provided for hauling abaca fiber in remote areas to consolidation areas in Tapak Proper and Butay and one delivery truck to deliver their products directly to the intended buyers.

To date, these subprojects are currently being implemented and beneficiaries are looking forward to their full completion for them to also be able to expand their own operations. (Joy M. Montecalvo)