USDA to build integrated marketing center in Caraga

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte- Rotten fruits and vegetables from Caraga Region and nearby provinces before it reaches its destination like Manila or Cebu.

The notion of “no available place for processing and storage,” will be thing of the past when the project is completed.

After the Memorandum of Agreement was signed earlier this week between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) -Winrock and the local government unit of Nasipit to build a P14.9-M Caraga Regional Integrated Marketing Center near International Port of Nasipit here.

The project formed part of the Philippine Cold Chain Project or PCCP funded by the U.S. government through the U.S. Department of Agriculture but implemented in the Philippines by U.S. based NGO Winrock International in cooperation with the Philippine Government whose beneficiaries are different qualified local government units of Caraga Region.

The PCCP Deputy Chief of Party is the Philippines’ Jim Orprecio while the Chief of Party is Daniel Gudahl.

Representing U.S. based NGO Winrock in the MOA signing is Daniel Gudahl while for the local government unit of Nasipit was Mayor Enrico Corvera The MOA signing held at Nasipit Sangguniang Bayan session hall was witnessed by members of the Nasipit Municipal Council and Municipal Government Department Heads.

Under signed contract agreement, USDA-Winrock will finance the construction of the center building and other structures including facilities total to approximately P13.1-M while the local government unit of Nasipit represented by Mayor Corvera will provide the one hectare land or lot where the center will be built. The Nasipit LGU will also provide minimal amount of funds for land site development.

Gudahl told Mindanao Gold Star Daily the construction of the center will start as soon as possible as it is expected to be completed by March 31, 2016.

Meanwhile, during the MOA signing ceremony, local officials of Nasipit headed by Mayor Corvera thanked USDA,  Gudahl and other PCCP officials present for establishment of the center as grant it extended to the LGU of Nasipit.

The center, according to said local officials, will spur economic development and employment not only at the port but for the entire Nasipit LGU and even to other parts of the region where said agricultural products like mangoes and bananas were produced.