December 2023 I-Plan Newsletter

DECEMBER 2023

I-PLAN Matters A Monthly Publication of the DA-PRDP Mindanao’s I-Plan Component

SK CONVERGENCE TO BOOST COCONUT INDUSTRY

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esides coffee, Sultan Kudarat Province eyes also at boosting the coconut industry. DA-PRDP XII and SK representatives met with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) on December 6, 2023 to forge the coconut convergence.

PRDP-XI, INDUSTRY PLAYERS EXPLORE CO-INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The meeting highlighted capability development activities to be included in the convergence initiatives such as AgroTechnology training, GAP training, and financial literacy trainings for the coconut farmers and processors. Also discussed were the timelines and submission of activity designs and MOA for Sultan Kudarat coconut convergence initiatives.

SK, led by OPAG, and PPDO, looks forward to the implementation of impactful activities through the convergence.

RPCOs PREPARE LGUs FOR SCALE-UP

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PCOs in Mindanao conducted series of activities in preparation for the PRDP Scale-up. RPCO XI, through its IPLAN, IBUILD, SES, GGU and Economics component/units, conducted a PRDP Scale Up Orientation for the LCE of Gov. Generoso on December 7, 2023 in Davao Oriental.

RPCO-9 Team, on the other hand, led by I-BUILD Component Head Engr. Juanito Taripe Jr., along with I-PLAN Component Head Engr. Brandon M. Mentolaroc, SES Unit Head Meneo Folgo, and Christopher L. Briones of the Geomapping and Governance Unit, conducted a brie ng to MGLU Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur on Dec 7, 2023 in Zamboanga del Sur. Moreover, PRDP RPCO XII team joined the General Santos City Local Chief Executive Meeting for PRDP participated by the representatives from the City Agriculturist, City Engineering, City Planning and the Of ce of the Mayor-Executive Assistant on December 11, 2023 to discuss the updating of the CIP of General Santos City and preparation for the city proposed sub-projects under PRDP-Scale-up.

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RPCO-9 Team (L-R): I-PLAN Component Head Engr. Brandon M. Mentolaroc, I-BUILD Component Head Engr. Juanito Taripe Jr., and SES Unit Head Meneo Folgo with MLGU Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur.

Genovivo Cajes, President,Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMin) Inc., explains the need to help farmers to be GAP-certi ed.

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A-XI’s I-Plan Component gathered the stakeholders of key commodities to explore co-investment opportunities. The activity is in collaboration with the I-Reap Component and participated by various NGAs, NGOs, SUCs, FCAs and Private Agribusiness Entities(PAEs) on December13-15 in Davao City.

The 3-day forum revisited the Value Chain Analysis (VCAs) and the commodity investment plans as basis for investments.

Priority commodities include: cassava, coconut, cacao, coffee and cardava banana.

This event is strategically crafted to amplify the involvement of both the private and public sector in fostering growth of the FCA groups within the agri- sheries sector. The strategic investments seek to further develop the top commodities PRDP looks forward to strengthened partnership with private sector.

PRDP-BFAR CARAGA CONVERGENCE BOOSTS FRY STOCK

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araga’s I-PLAN component continued its convergence project with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) by conducting a fry stocking ceremony on December 5, 2023 at BFAR Caraga’s Masao Technology Outreach Station, Butuan City.

The partnership aims to produce an alternative sh feed for bangus and tilapia using raw materials that are readily available in the Caraga region. This locally-produced feed will address high input costs in bangus and tilapia production, making affordable feeds more accessible for small-scale sherfolks in the Caraga region.

In total, the convergence project has stocked 40,000 pieces of Bangus fry and 40,000 pieces of Tilapia fry. It will then proceed to use locally produced feeds in its experimental feeding trials.

I-PLAN & I-REAP GEAR UP FOR SCALE-UP

(L-R) BAHUG Team leader Gemma A. Asufre, DA-PRDP Planning of

CARAGA AND DAVAO REGIONS MEET LGUs, PREPARE FOR 2024 IMPLEMENTATION

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-PLAN Component of RPCO-13 facilitated the RPCO-P/ CCPT year-end coordination meeting on December 14, 2023. More than 60 representatives from the LGUs in region 13 participated in the activity.

PSO Mindanao Deputy Project Director Noel T. Provido explains the thrust of PRDP SCALE-UP: large scale investments through clustering and consolidation, focusing on champion commodities.

In Region XI, the coordination activity was an avenue to recognize the efforts of the LGUs in making the project implementation successful. It was also a chance for exchange of ideas, strategies and good practices for implementation. Caraga and Davao Regions eye a more effective and ef cient implementation of activities in 2024.

I-PLAN Mindanao RPCOs participated in the strategic T heplanning and workshop of I-REAP component to evaluate and identify key areas for improvement in subproject implementation on December 5-8, 2023 in General Santos City.

I-REAP personnel from the six regions in Mindanao along with representatives from other components and units, and representatives from the National Project Coordination Office participated in the activity. Among the topics discussed were strategies to fast track the completion of subprojects under the Second Additional Financing and European Union Co-Financing Grant (AF2-EU) and preparation for the PRDP Scale-up.

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The RPCO I-REAP BARMM secured the 2nd place in the Sustainability and Risk Reduction Award category, the 3rd place in the Enterprise Operation Award for the Enterprise Operations Manual category.

DA-PRDP 13 Deputy Project Director, Jodel A. Tabada discussed updates on pipelined subprojects for 2024.