San Jose City, NUEVA ECIJA – Development and growth in SIKKAP Ampalaya Enterprise has remained resilient amidst management constraints and is expected to start its operations early next year.

This was revealed during a field visit conducted by the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) together with the Project Support Office and Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 3) I-REAP Component on November 26-27, 2019, here.

According to NPCO Enterprise Development Marketing Specialist (EDMS) Rebecca Orozco, the purpose of the field visit is to assess the current status of the enterprise likewise to identify the disparities in terms of organization, operations and financial aspect.

SIKKAP comprises of three associations namely Simula ng Panibagong Bukas (SIPBU), Kapisanan ng mga Babae na Nagtatanim ng Gulay Atbp. (KABANGA) Producers Cooperative and the Kapisungan Producers Cooperative (KAPISOCO) that were merged together to meet the required 20% equity counterpart required by the project.

It can be recalled that SIKKAP is among the initial subprojects piloted by the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in 2014. It was seen to be the main producer and consolidator of fresh ampalaya and other vegetables that will magnify the business in support of other growers within the province.

In a brief interview, Provincial Project Management Implementing Unit (PPMIU) Focal Person Dr. Joebeat Bernardo Agliam stated that SIKKAP was previously handled by KABANGGA but after a closer look at the financial and organizational aspect, SIPBU is seen to assume the management of the enterprise.

Fast forward today, 95% of the PRDP interventions such as seeds, organic fertilizers, plastic mulch, delivery trucks, trellis materials and the construction of a packing house were provided to SIKKAP to help boost their production similarly with the provisions of combined harvester, tractor, shallow tube well and other farm machineries provided by the regular program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Aside from ampalaya, SIKKAP has now ventured in the production of rice, onion, dairy with high hopes of a prosperous income and security of a better living. (Ma. Reina Len Luna, RPCO3 InfoACE)