THE High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of DA- MiMaRoPa Turned- over five (5) units Agricultural Tramline Systems (ATS)with a total worth of P24.5 million in the municipalities of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro; Roxas, Palawan; and Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 23, Dec. 6, and Dec. 11, 2018, respectively.
These ATS will address the hauling problem of the people located in far-flung areas with no access to a proper road in transporting produce from their area to the market with lesser travel time and damage. Thus, translates to much higher income for them.
The first Agricultural tramline system that costs Php 3.69-million was granted to Nafagkasadian Abanan Buhid Sas Akliyang, a Mangyan community in Bongabong. It has a length of 660 meters long.
Congressman Reynaldo Umali, Jr., and Board Member Paolo Umali attended the ceremony with the DA Officials.
While in Roxas Palawan, there were two (2) Tramline Systems that were turned over to Caramay Coffee Planters Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CCPMPC) located in Sitio Baran which has a length of 850 meters, another in Sitio Kaipapaw measuring 660 meters, respectively. The ATS cost P4.16-million (850 meters) and P 5-million (660 meters).
Mr. Alvah V. Lagan represented the CCPMPC being the Chairman while Mayor Maria Angela Sabando, Mr. Alonzo Garcillano From Municipal Agriculture Office, and Brgy Capt. Maria Ofelia M. Gabo represented the LGU in the ceremony.
Lastly, the 1860-meter long ATS in Cabacao that costs Php 7.8-million and 770 m- long ATS in Lumang Bayan in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro were turned- over to Banabaan farmers Association and Daujan irrigators Farmers Association, correspondingly.
It is the second V- type tramline system in the country, according to Ms. Corazon O. Sinnung, DA MiMaRopa HVCDP Focal Person.
Present in that event were Abra de Ilog Mayor Maria Gloria M. Constantino, Municipal Agricultural Officer (MAO) Julius Judelito Amodia, and Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PAFC)- Occidental Mindoro Chairperson Alfonso Esguerra Jr. with the DA Officials.
All ATS have the capacity of 360 kilograms that could make the residents ship their fresh produce like banana, coconut, corn, cashew, and other root crops down to the main roads.
The recipients were very thankful to the department as the received the system. As CCPMPC Chairman Lagan said, “napakalaki po ng maitutulong nitong Tramline na ito hindi lang sa aming mga miymebro kundi po para sa lahat. Mailalagak na nang maayos ang aming mga produkto at maibenta sa tamang halaga”.
“Di masusukat ang kasiyahan naming sa nailagay na proyektong ito ng DA. problema talaga ang paglalabas ng aming mga produkto dito kasi kapag malaki ang tubig ang ginagamit naming ay bangkang goma lang an gaming ginagamit. Kaya pakaiingatan naming itong proyektong ito," said Mr. Silvano Parado, Chairman of Banabaan Farmers Association.
The DA hopes that the recipients will take good care of the projects they received from the agency.
These events were attended by DA- MiMaRoPa’s Regional Technical Director (RTD) Ronie F. Panoy, and HVCDP Focal Person and Operations Chief Corazon O. Sinnung together with other staff.
