Department of Agriculture turns over 9.5 m facilities

DA turns over 9.5M agricultural facilities and other infrastructure projects to Maragusan Multi-purpose Cooperative

Compostela Valley Province---A total of 9.5Million pesos worth of agricultural facilities and infrastructure projects from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office XI and the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was officially turned over to the officials, board of directors and members of the Maragusan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAMPCO) last October 2, 2019.

The ceremonial turn over was held at the MAMPCO Agricultural Complex, Purok Mangga, Poblacion, Maragusan, Comval.

The program is in partnership with the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) of the provincial government of Comval and the Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAGRO) of the municipality of Maragusan.

Attending the program were DA Region-XI representative Engr. Rubelyn Gomez together with Ronald Sibayan Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, Hon. Vice Mayor Cesar C. Colina Sr., Engr. Nelson Ortiz Municipal Agriculturist of the municipality of Maragusan, officers and members of the MAMPCO, MAGRO officials and employees and the provincial and municipal employees.

According to Sibayan, the provincial government assisted in the selection and facilitation of the documents of the requesting beneficiaries.

He added that the project was implemented with the supervision of the PAGRO, MAGRO and the DA.

“Amounting to Php337,969.66 or 20% is coming from the PLGU Comval as counterpart for the construction of the tablea facility,” said Sibayan.

The Tablea Processing and Marketing Enterprise facility has a total amount of Php2,515,348.31 from the PRDP I-REAP of the DA with 20% counter parting of the provincial government of Comval.

Among the agricultural facilities and infrastructure projects from the DA were turned over are the Coffee roasting facility worth Php1,989,109.19; 2 units fermentary facilities - Php496,120.00; 2 units weather drier- Php566,777.17; 1 unit mobile flash dryer- Php2,998,000.00; 90HP Farm tractor- Php1,980,000.00; 1 unit plant nursery- Php497,020.00; 1 unit floating tiller- Php130,000.00 and 1 unit Cassava granulator amounting to Php129, 640.00.

According to Armando B. Escuadro MAMPCO General Manager, a total of 3,458 members of their coop will benefit of the projects.

He added that the actual members that can benefit for the tablea processing project are the 150 individuals or the Cacao farmers. “Amung purpose ani nga ma protektahan ang interest sa among mga farmers nga makavail sila ug taas nga presyo. Kay ang ilang produce amung e process, he said.

“Ang amuang objective nga ang ipagawas namu nga produkto sa amung coop is finish product na para pud madugangan namu ang buying price sa ilang abot ug makaavail na sa taas-taas nga presyo,” the manager added.

Meanwhile, Calixto Saromines a cacao farmer expressed his gratitude to the DA and the provincial government for the said project. “Nalipay kog dako nga naabot ni nga mga project dria kay dako kayo ni ug tabang sa amuang mga mag-uuma isip usa ka myembro sa kooperatiba. Kay daghan mi ug benipisyo nga madawat sa among pagbaligya sa among abot gawas nga dili name maglisod kung asa ibaligya naa pa gyud me madawat nga dividend,” he said.

“Inganyo ug challenge na kaayo me kay mao gyud ni amo gipaabot sukad-sukad sa dugay ng panahon. Dako kayo ni ug tabang nga moangat me sa among panginabuhian,” he added. #YEStoDavaoDeOro (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)