TUBOD, LDN – To boost coconut sugar production and expand market opportunities, the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) officially turned over the Coconut Sugar Processing and Marketing Enterprise to the Mindanao Cooperative Trade and Industries (MCTI) on August 19, 2025.

Funded under the Second Additional Financing Grant (AF2), the enterprise includes a processing facility worth PhP 6.89 million, a hauling truck worth PhP 3.13 million, processing equipment worth PhP 2.86 million, raw materials worth PhP 1.24 million, and site development and pre-operation costs of PhP 2.07 million—bringing the total project cost to PhP 16.21 million.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, congratulated the cooperative and underscored that the subproject’s continued success will rely on the members’ commitment to sustain convergence, collaboration, and cooperation, along with the support of the Department of Agriculture.

The enterprise is projected to increase farmers’ annual net income by 153% in its first year of operation, with at least 5% growth in the succeeding years. MCTI also targets a 23% increase in the annual volume of coconut sugar production.

MCTI Chairman Engr. Rodel Maghinay outlined the cooperative’s next steps for market expansion:

“Our first priority is to secure accreditation so that our product will be recognized and free from hassles. Once everything is in order, we can begin entering big malls like Gaisano or Robinsons. For now, we still lack some requirements, but once we have them, that’s when we can start supplying in bulk.”

[“First things first among buhaton is among ipa-accredit para ma-recognize ang among produkto ug wala nay hasol, maayo na ang dagan ug maka-sulod na mi ug mga big malls like Gaisano or Robinsons. As of now, wala pa mi kay kulang ang among mga requirements. Pag naa na, that will be the time na bulto-bulto na ang among supplies.”]

He also credited the project’s success to the technical support extended by PRDP PSO and RPCO.

“We worked hard and persevered, and with the help of DA-PRDP RPCO and PSO, we were able to complete our coconut sugar processing center project.”

[“Tiyagaan namo ug giantos ang proseso, ug pinaagi sa tabang sa DA-PRDP RPCO ug PSO, nakompleto namo ang among proyekto sa coconut sugar processing center.”] (IAgawin)