RPAB approves P16.1M worth of enterprises in Ilocos Region
The Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB 1) approved three (3) regular enterprises for the Province of Pangasinan and La Union during its 15th meeting held at the 3rd Floor Conference Room, Department of Agriculture on November 14, 2017.
The regular enterprises include the P7.2 million tomato enterprise of the Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers Association Inc. in Bani, Pangasinan; the P4.7 million tomato enterprise of the Urdaneta City Organic Farming Rice, Corn, Vegetable Growers Association, Inc. in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, and the P4.1 million mungbean enterprise of the San Fermin Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative in Caba, La Union.
The various enterprises target to supply tomatoes to institutional markets like Jollibee Food Corporation, increase tomato and mungbean production of farmers, and increase the income of beneficiaries by 30% at the end of six years, among others.
RPAB member and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Dir. Florante O. Leal consistently inquired on the sustainability of the proposed enterprises. Reviewing the proposals, he noticed that there are months when the enterprises will cease operations. He recommended for the revision of the proposals to include off-season production and for the enterprises to operate all year-round.
Nevertheless, the RPAB, spearheaded by DA Regional Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar Jr., was convinced of the viability of the enterprises and endorsed the proposals to the Luzon A Project Support Office (PSO) subject to compliance with the recommendations of the Board.
The PRDP will accept enterprise proposals only until December 2017. The succeeding years will be allotted for the monitoring of approved enterprise subprojects. ### (Dessa U. Estrada and Vida V. Cacal, RPCO 1 InfoACE)
