The Regional Project Coordination Office 2 (RPCO 2) I-PLAN Component headed by Ms. Kay Olivas and members of Provincial Project Management Implementing Unit (PPMIU) conferred today to fine-tune and refine the commodity investment plan (CIP) of Cagayan.

“Some Cagayan MLGUs have signified their desire to partner with the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project. However, under the policies of PRDP, the I-REAP and I-BUILD interventions should support the commodities included in the CIP. Let us then refine and study closely how the process could ease these LGUs in,” RED Narciso A. Edillo who offered suggestions during the review said in his message.

Commodities were prioritized based on the suitability to Cagayan’s topographic characteristics, soil type, climate, and development goals. The Commodity Prioritization Tool (CPT) was utilized applying the following criteria and weights: suitability (40%), market potential (20%), impact on the poor (15%), and a number of growers or raisers (25%). The top six commodities are rice, corn, carabao dairy, carabao mango, peanut, and beef cattle.

The implementation of the development interventions will increase the number of producers and farmers, small and medium-scale processors, and traders. Likewise, the player’s income will increase by at least 10 percent in the next 3 years; and a desirable sufficiency and export level will be attained that will significantly share in the provincial agricultural sector outputs. Eventually, the industries involving those commodities will help in alleviating poverty in the Province as it provides various livelihood opportunities, and thereby contribute to inclusive economic growth.

The Municipal Governments of Rizal, Aparri, Enrile, Tuao, Baggao, and Penablanca have earlier submitted letters of intent emphasizing that they have the capability to counterpart and implement the infrastructures rolled out under DA PRDP and sought the technical team to visit and consider their proposed FMRs.

During the conference, the group agreed that a joint RPCO 2-PPMIU revalidation will be conducted on August 13, 2020, to consolidate the commodities to be supported in the different municipalities which have submitted proposals.

As part of improving the value chains, interventions that make farmers in those municipalities are likewise given priority in the refinement to be incorporated in the investment plan.

Moreover, capacity building activities and provisions of climate-smart infrastructures for production and manufacturing are integrated into the commodity chain development as the basis of the proposed interventions to be scrutinized by the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO). (Ferdinand N Cortez, RPCO2 InfoACE Unit)