The members of the Alcala Onion Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AOGMPC) are filled with glee as they receive their brand new 10-wheeler delivery truck from PRDP. (Photo by Alex B. Belgica, RPCO 1 InfoACE) When dreams turn into reality: Alcala Onion Growers receive 10-wheeler truck from PRDP
“Dati panaginip lang naming magkaroon ng sariling truck. Ngayon, meron na dahil sa PRDP” [We used to dream about having our own delivery truck. Now, we have one because of the PRDP.], Alcala Onion Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AOGMPC) President Romulo Bacolor shared during the awarding ceremony of various enterprise subprojects at the Pangasinan Provincial Agriculture Office in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, January 9.
The AOGMPC was organized in 2001 with 22 original members. Its members started delivering onions to the Jollibee Food Corporation Canlubang Commissary in 2003 with a delivery quota of 60 metric tons (MT) which they completed within five deliveries. Since then, the AOGMPC continued to supply white (yellow granex) onion to the Jollibee. However, until recently, the Cooperative rents a truck to deliver its onion produce.
“Hanggang ngayon, ang problema namin ay ‘yong mahal na delivery. Ang gastos namin, umaabot ng Php26,000 kada delivery doon sa Canlubang Commissary.” Mr. Bacolor said during an interview. He shared that, former governor and now incumbent representative of Pangasinan 5th district, Congressman Amado T. Espino urged the AOGMPC to propose under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in 2015. The Cooperative saw the PRDP as a venue to prosper its operations and answer its long-time dream – to own a delivery truck.
The AOGMPC presented their proposed Yellow Granex Production, Consolidation, and Trading Enterprise with the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in 2015. However, it was only on July 12, 2017 that the proposal was issued with a No Objection Letter (NOL). The delay of the award of the enterprise was primarily caused by the increase in the price of vehicles. The AOGMPC, the Province of Pangasinan, and the Department of Agriculture closely coordinated to raise the deficit in price.
From 22 members in 2003, AOGMPC now has 69 members and its quota delivery with the Jollibee has increased to more than 100 MT. “Ngayon na nakikita na nila ‘yong nakuha naming assistance mula sa gobyerno, siguradong marami ng gustong sumali. Sa Jollibee kasi, iisa ang presyo hanggang matapos namin ‘yong quota,” [Now that people can see the assistance that we receive from the government, the number of our members will surely increase. Also with Jollibee, the buying price of our onion produce is consistent until we satisfy the quota.] Mr. Bacolor added. The fluctuating price of onion in the market is one of the industry gaps of the onion commodity identified in the Luzon A Cluster Onion Value Chain Analysis.
Aside from a 10-wheeler truck worth Php3,825,000, the AOGMPC also received a digital weighing scale, 46 cans of yellow granex onion seeds, and 5,796 pieces of red net bags. To complete its onion enterprise, the Cooperative will also receive Php536,800 trading capital which will be used to buy the onion produce of its members.
The enterprise component of the PRDP aims to increase the income of its direct beneficiaries by 20% within six years. The AOGMPC is expected to harvest and deliver onions for the first cycle of its enterprise in March 2019. #Dessa U. Estrada, RPCO 1 InfoACE
