Institutional Development Unit in partnership with Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division of Department of Agriculture (DA)-MiMaRoPa conducted training on Institutional Development, Palay Post-Production Technology and Cooperative Enterprise Management (PPPT-CEM) for two (2) cooperatives/associations in Palawan and six (6) in the provinces of Mindoro.
For Palawan, the training was held on October 17-21 at A&A Plaza Hotel, Puerto Princesa City and for the provinces of Mindoro, it was held on October 24 to 28 at Sikatuna Beach Hotel, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The participants were plant managers, warehouse men, milling operators, dryer operators, bookkeepers, classifiers, marketing officers, managers and chairpersons of different cooperatives and association.
National Food Authority (NFA) trained the participants on the best practices in handling rice processing centers (RPCs). Participants were also brought to different RPCs to witness an actual operation. The participants in Palawan, were brought to Palawan ARC Cooperative Federation (PARCOFED) in the municipality of Narra. In Occidental Mindoro, they visited Coconut Farmers of Occidental Mindoro (CFOM) in San Jose.
Prior to the training, DA also brought the attendees to Bicol Region for exposure learning on Rice Processing Center (RPC) operations. This is for them to witness the actual operation of the successful RPCs of Bicol and gain knowledge on the policy and guidelines being implemented to ensure smooth and continuous operation of the project.
Turn-over of working capital
Heeding the call of the DA Secretary Emmanuel Pinol to support the RPCs, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s (ACPC) turn-over working capitals to different qualified cooperatives and FAs in the country.
The attendees of the trainings in Palawan and Occidental Mindoro were also the recipients of the working capitals. In total, ACPC turn-over Php5.5 million to the seven cooperatives and an association.
The Mindoro Rice Processing Center (MRPC) in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro; Bansud Livestock MPC in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro; CFOM and PARCOFED received Php1 million. Pagpapaunlad Kita-Kilusang Bayan sa Gawain in Rizal (PAKIKIBAGA) in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro; Ligaya Multi-Purpose and Transport Services Cooperative (LimTransCo) in Ligaya, Occidental Mindoro and Taytay Municipal Farmers Association (TMFA) in Taytay, Palawan received Php500,000.
The working capitals are soft loans that has no interest and are payable within three (3) years for Php 500,000 loans and five (5) years for Php 1 million loans both with two years grace period.
The awarding of their loan checks was the highlight of both events. Upon the attendees’ visit in the RPCs of CFOM and PARCOFED the turn-over was held.
Present in the awarding are representatives from ACPC and NFA.
Atty. Cipriano Santiago, Regional Executive Director of Da-MIMAROPA was also present in the event who personally handed over the checks.
“This is a challenge to you na pagandahin niyo at pag-igihan niyo ang serbisyo ng rice processing centers para mas marami pa kayong benepisyong makuha,” he said in his congratulatory message.
When he was in Palawan he encouraged the recipients to persevere more so that they will all be successful.
Gratitude flowed as the working capitals were given to the recipients.
“Ang RPC po ng Bongabong ay isang taon na pong walang pera, pero pinaglalaban po namin ito ng aking partner para sa mga magsasaka at ngayon po hindi kapaniwala-niwala may 1 million na po kami.Nangangako ako sa Director tatakbo na po siya,” promised by Joey Garin, Chairman of MRPC.
“Napakasaya po namin ngayon, lalo na yung mga member na naka-stock ang palay dito dahil kahit papaano makakapag-cash advance kami sa mga member,” said by Jose Vidal, Chairman of PARCOFED.
“We really appreciate lahat ng tulong ng DA, ACPC, at NFA. Rest assured po na pagyayamanin namin ang tulong ninyo. Malaking bagay po ito sa pag-unlad ng aming kooperatiba. From Bicol hanggang dito masayang-masaya po kami, kahit sinong kausap namin palagi naming nababanggit ang unforgettable experience na ito,” Arturo Sabadisto, Manager of LimTransCo, expressed.
The RPCs were given under the AgriPinoy Program to the cooperatives with the aim to help farmers reduce their post-harvest losses and raise their income. The centers are equipped with different machineries and post-harvest facilities.
