PSO South Luzon, RPCO MIMAROPA conduct Virtual PreCon for VCO Processing Facility
The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPOC) MIMAROPA, together with the Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon Cluster, conducted an online Preconstruction Conference for the upcoming Oriental Mindoro Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Processing and Marketing subproject on October 28, 2021.
The said subproject is an upgrading/expansion that aims to improve the VCO processing facility of the Calima Socio-Economic Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CASEMPCO) with a total cost of PhP14,657,497.45.
The VCO Processing Facility will have a size of 11.5 x 14.99 meters, and will be located in Barangay Calima, Municipality of Pola, Oriental Mindoro. This facility is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Previously, a hauling truck and a service delivery van were turned over to the Proponent Group (PG) on October 4, 2021, as part of the subproject package.
When asked about their plans once the processing facility is fully operational, CASEMPCO Chairman Nelia Fontecilla shared that they plan to focus on marketing and the exportation of their products.
“May nagawa na kami na plano, pero para masunod tong plano, kelangan naming mag-focus sa marketing. May balak kami [mag-distribute] sa ibang probinsya, meron din nagtatanong samin for export. Merong kumukuha – Japan, Kuwait, interesado sa products hindi lang po sa virgin coconut oil, pati ibang products, mayroon rin kaming coco coir and coco peat,” Chairman Fontecilla said.
Also present in the Preconstruction Conference are members of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit, the Bids and Awards Committee, and the project contractor (Lita Sugay). (Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)
Oriental Mindoro Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit, the Bids and Awards Committee, the project contractor, and members of the MIMAROPA RPCO pose for a virtual group photo before the conference was adjourned. (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)
