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)

36 social entrepreneurs from the BARMM to show their products ...

... and services during the CSO-SEED BIR Demo Day

Cagayan De Oro, Philippines, 7thOctober, 2019:Villgro Philippines and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, in partnership with the British Council and co-funded by the European Union, will be conducting a Demo Day and Social Enterprise Showcase on October 7th at the N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro. Key stakeholders from the ecosystem including the Government, financial institutions, international and local NGOs and private market partners, will be in attendance for a day of networking and panel discussions. The event is also an opportunity to see the progress of 36 social entrepreneurs from across the BARMM network showcase their products, ranging from agriculture, food, and fisheries to lending, trading, business services and weaving.  The showcase booths are open to public from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. 

This event is part of the Business and Investment Readiness Programme and is the final activity of the three-year long CSO-SEED Programme which aims to improve civil society participation in policy reforms and develop local incubators to cultivate an environment conducive to decent work, job creation and Small to Medium Enterprise development.

"The British Council in the Philippines works with partners such as Villgro and ASSIST to help strengthen the Philippines’ social enterprise sector and make it sustainable, particularly in conflict affected communities. We are aware of the huge potential of the sector and take pride in how our CSO SEED grantees have improved their governance structure and business model as a social enterprise. In this event, we are confident that our grantees will be able to demonstrate that they are prepared to broaden their markets across and beyond BARMM,” said Pilar Aramayo-Prudencio, Country Director, British Council in the Philippines.

Six social enterprise intermediaries were carefully selected to participate in the programme and successfully mentored the SEs: Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, The Moropreneur Inc., Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People, Nagdilaab Foundation, Maranao People Development Center, and Concerned Alliance of Professionals and Students Inc.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the British Council and the European Union on the Business and Investment Readiness initiative, which is focussed on long-term sustainable change in one of the most vulnerable of the regions. The openness and thirst for knowledge of our partners on the ground is driving this programme.  I have personally been very impressed by the quality and success of the businesses located in some of the most remote parts of the country.  What they need is a tad bit of resources and access to markets to accelerate their growth,” said Priya Thachadi, CEO and Co-founder of Villgro Philippines.

Over the course of the programme, entrepreneurs received seed funding to support their ideas and had the opportunity to be mentored by their respective social enterprise intermediaries and various other mentors. The demo day is being organized to help social enterprise intermediaries (SEIs) and their respective social enterprises (SEs) network with key ecosystem stakeholders and support them in scaling their social impact in the BARMM.

About Villgro

Villgro is an early-stage social enterprise incubator and investor. Villgro funds and mentors’ innovative social enterprises that are building solutions to improve the lives of the poor. Through its intensive hands-on model, Villgro works closely with entrepreneurs at the early stages, helping them navigate the challenges of getting to market faster and cheaper.

Set up in 2001, Villgro has supported over 120 social enterprises in India, who have gone on to raise almost USD 20 million in follow on funding, created about 4000 jobs and impacted the lives of around 15 million people.

Villgro in the Philippines aims to create successful, innovative, impactful enterprises in the country. Their hands-on incubation model will provide funding, mentoring, knowledge and networks to early stage entrepreneurs, who are building innovative solutions to impact the lives of the poor. Their unique incubation model will help entrepreneurs strengthen their problem solution fit, validate business models and build and implement a strong go-to-market strategy that will be sustainable and impactful.

For more information contact:

Angelo Guingona Santiago
Program Manager, Villgro Philippines

Ph 63 927 743 6599|angelo@villgrophilippines.org

www.villgrophilippines.org

President Fidel Ramos was chosen as the Lifetime Contributor Arwardee

Photo taken during celebration of Germany's National Day of Unity in New World Hotel in Makati City

Former President Fidel Ramos was chosen as the Lifetime Contributor awardee by the Board of Judges of Asia CEO Awards 2019.

Fidel Valdez Ramos was the 12th President of the Philippines and is widely regarded as one of the most effective leaders of the nation’s history.  His term of government was characterized by rapid economic progress and political stability despite dealing with communist insurgencies, Islamic separatists and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

FVR was educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and at the University of Illinois. He joined the Philippine army and served in Korea and Vietnam. He was appointed chief of the Philippine Constabulary in 1972 by President Marcos and responsible for enforcing martial law when it was imposed later that same year.

After the 1986 elections, Marcos claimed victory despite allegations of wide-spread fraud.  Ramos and defense minister Enrile supported Marcos’ opponent, Corazon Aquino. Their defection sparked the “People Power” movement that forced Marcos into exile. During Aquino’s presidency Ramos served as military chief of staff (1986–88) and secretary of national defense (1988–91).  He suppressed several military coup attempts against the government.

FVR was elected to succeed Aquino in 1992. He purged the national police force of corrupt officers and reached peace agreements with long-active guerrilla insurgencies.

He liberalized the Philippines’ protected economy to spur fast prosperity growth enabling the country to weather the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that crippled other economies across the region.