Date Published: April 22, 2024

All members of the Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB1) on April 19, Friday, approved the proposal of the Provincial Government of La Union to construct a storage facility with solar dryer for peanut and mung bean commodities.

This marks the third subproject (SP) approved by the RPAB 1 members this year, joining other PRDP Scale-up funded proposals.

Amounting to Php 17, 411, 020, the SP will be established in Brgy. Bungol, Balaoan, La Union.

As presented by Engr. Ressie A. Estrella, La Union Provincial Engineer, the facility will have a service area spanning a combined 575 hectares for peanut and 95 hectares for mung bean. Upon completion, it will benefit 22 farmers’ associations, cooperatives, and irrigators’ associations.

Present at the meeting were DA RFO1 Regional Executive Director Annie Q. Bares, DENR1 Representative Mr. Bernard B. Quiros, DPWH1 representative Engr. Vilmaflor Gascon, RAFC Chairman Mr. Benjamin Y. Campañano, DAR1 representative Ms. Emeraldlyn B. Cantoria, DA La Union Office representative Engr. Imelda Cunanan, DILG1 representative Mr. Pedro D. Gonzales, and DTI1 Regional Director Grace Falgui-Baluyan.

The establishment of this facility aligns with DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr.’s mandate to boost the country’s food productivity through investments in postharvest facilities.