GENERAL Santos City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has released an initial P20.67 million for the implementation of a cassava granules production and marketing project under the flagship Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) in Polomolok town in South Cotabato. Amalia Jayag-Datukan, DA Region 12 executive director, turned over the funds to the Polo Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SNMPC) in a simple ceremony held last Monday at the South Cotabato provincial capital in Koronadal City.
The official said the funds represent the first and second tranches of the cooperative’s P39 million project, which involves the production, processing and marketing of cassava granules. The cassava project was the first-ever initiative that was approved under the enterprise development or Investments for Rural Enterprises and Agriculture Productivity component of the PRDP, which is supported by the World Bank.“The whole nation is looking at this project and rooting for its success,” Datukan said.
She noted that the project has tremendous potentials due to opportunities in the area’s thriving livestock sector. Several commercial feed mills based in the area, among them San Miguel Corporation’s subsidiary B-MEG Philippines, have already forged purchase agreements with the cooperative. Karen Daguro, Polo SNMPC manager, assured that they will properly utilize and take care of the funds granted to them by the government. She said they will share its benefits with four other local cooperatives that have signed up for the project.
These are the Topland Multipurpose Cooperative in Koronadal City and Tantangan town; Pobusilla MPC in Tampakan and Tupi towns; San Jose MPC in Banga and Norala; and Self Reliant MPC in Surallah, T’boli, Lake Sebu and Sto. Nino towns. Daguro said the six-year project will mainly benefit around 5,000 farmers and farm laborers in various parts of the province.
South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes expressed her gratitude to the DA-12 for facilitating the implementation of the project.
“We’re happy that we are getting this attention from DA. This is a manifestation that the national government is really determined to bring its services down to the local communities,” she said. The governor added that the local government will make sure that the project will be properly implemented and turn in quality results.(PNA)
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