In preparation for the implementation of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES), the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) MIMAROPA conducted a writing workshop on crafting the Municipal Commodity Investment Plan (MCIP) from July 28 to 29, 2021.

The Commodity Investment Plan is PRPD’s tool that rationalizes necessary interventions based on the value chain of agricultural products. This serves as the basis of appropriate projects which will help in the development of the industry of the prioritized commodities.

The MCIP, specifically, aims to create a localized basis for programs and interventions to assure that each municipality receives the most relevant projects based on their prioritized commodities. 

The workshop was led by I-BUILD Component Head Engineer Ma. Christine Inting, I-PLAN Component Head Dr. Nex Basi, together with Planning Specialist Timoteo Borromeo, and Planning Officer Faith Janica Manalo.

Dr. Basi expressed his expectation for the full cooperation of the municipalities in the crafting of the MCIP.

“Under the Mandanas ruling, some of us will be devolved in the province and the LGUs. Ang extension service na mauunang ma-devolve sa inyo ay ‘yung PCIP, kaya ang potential extension service system na kayo ang magle-lead, naka-anchor po ‘yun sa PCIP. Ngayon aside sa PAFES, ‘yung ating extension service, magagamit rin ninyo sa PRDP. Kasi ito magiging basis of the projects and programs na pwede ibigay sa inyo ng PRDP,” Dr. Basi said.

(Some of us will be devolved in the provinces and the LGUs under the Mandanas ruling. The first extension service which will be devolved is the PCIP. The potential extension service system that you will lead will be anchored to the PCIP. Aside from PAFES, our extension service, you can also use the MCIP for PRDP. The MCIP will be the basis of the projects and programs that PRDP will provide.)

The workshop was attended by 65 representatives from the 11 municipalities of Occidental Mindoro, composed of Municipal Agriculturist/Officers, Municipal Planning Development Officers, Budget Officers, Municipal Engineers, and Agricultural Technicians. (Denice Joelle A. Benosa and Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

(From left to right) Timoteo Borromeo, Planning Specialist; Dr. Nex Basi, I-Plan Component Head; and Engr. Ma. Christine Inting, I-Build Component Head facilitate the writing workshop for the crafting of the MCIP of the municipalities in the Province of Occidental Mindoro, July 28. (Photo by Denice Joelle Benosa, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)