Karen Daguro, manager of the proponent group Polo Samahang Nayon Multi-purpose Cooperative presenting the business plan for the Production and Marketing of Cassava Granules

Representatives from Central Luzon visited South Cotabato for a three-day expository tour on the first approved Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) enterprise subproject of the province. In attendance are the Project Support Office (PSO) Luzon A, Regional Project Coordination Office 3 (RPCO3), Bulacan Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria Carrillo, Tarlac  Alternate Provincial Program Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU) Head Frances Canlas and Pampanga Provincial Corn Coordinator Reynaldo Sarmiento.

Inspired by the success of the Mindanao Rural Development Project (MRDP), the tour not only aims to look into the subproject on the field but also on the province’s practice on the formulation of their business plans, Value Chain Analysis (VCA) and Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP).

The team was welcomed last March 11 in a courtesy call in Bololmalo, Tupi, South Cotabato by the Mindanao PSO lead by Region 12 Regional Technical Director Zaldy Boloron and Regional Executive Director Amalia Datukan.

The P39.3 million subproject dubbed as the Production and Marketing of Cassava Granules in the town of Polomolok aims to help marginalized farmers increase their income. It was given the No Objection Letter last December and serves as the pilot subproject of the province.

Karen Daguro, manager of the proponent group Polo Samahang Nayon Multi-purpose Cooperative led the presentation of the business plan.

Another project that was visited is the MRDP’s Coffee and Cacao Production and Processing in Tupi, South Cotabato.

Abner Navarro, South Cotabato PPMIU Head shared that one of the factors for South Cotabato having the most number of projects and largest budget allocation during MRDP is because of their fast submission of proposals. “Because of our experience in MRDP, the implementation for PRDP was easier for us, although the systems and procedures were a little different,” said Navarro.  South Cotabato was also the first province that received a No Objection Letter (NOL) from the World Bank.

In a discussion on the process of crafting their VCAs, PCIPs and business plans, it was revealed that their business plan for the approved I-REAP subproject reached 15 revisions. “There were times na gusto na naming mag-surrender pero iniisip din naming yung mga tao behind us. Nararamdaman namin na fully-supported kami,” said Marites Tanseco, I-PLAN Alternate.

Tanseco also emphasized the importance of teamwork and time management in achieving their ultimate goal which is to implement successfully the subproject and achieve the needed expansion as projected, thus fully serving the farmer partners, increase their income and improve their economic condition. (Kayla Arceo)

Cassava post-harvest operations in Polomolok, South Cotabato