RAPID Newsmakers Issue #1

The Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, an investment project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), launched three (3) farm-to-market road rehabilitation sub-projects early this year.

A two-kilometer proposed farm-to-market road rehabilitation in Brgy. Tinambacan, Jaro, Leyte is the first for RAPID which launched in May 30, 2022. Second is the improvement of a 3.4 kilometer farm-to-market road in Kaatuan, Lantapan, Bukidnon, which launched in June 17, 2022. Third is the 2.7 kilometer farm-to-market road in Kapalong, Davao del Norte, which stretches from New Agno, Brgy. Mabantao to Brgy. Capungagan, launched in June 20, 2022.

As part of the Project’s holistic approach to providing the necessary services to the entire value chain (of Cacao, Coffee, Coconut, and processed fruits and nuts), such as providing direct assistance to enterprises, the FMI serves as a conduit for linking MSMEs and large firms as markets to farmers as producers, and in the process, create opportunities for increased income and job generation among farming households and communities.

The lack of farm-to-market road (FMR) is one of the challenges that affect productivity and efficiency of farmers and MSMEs. For farmers, the lack of FMIs oftentimes put them to disadvantage as they are dependent on middlemen traders who visit their community and buy their commodities. Consequently, the farm price of commodities being offered by middlemen traders is lower compared to institutional buyers and/or processors. The MSMEs on the other hand, often have problems with higher transport and handling costs due to difficulty in accessing the source of raw materials of their products.

What is significant about these FMI sub-projects is its strategic importance, as not only providing access and serving the needs of production areas, but also to the rest of agricultural value chain consisting of Farmers’ Organizations and MSMEs that can be buyers, processors, traders, and consolidators, and other VC actors, as well as to the larger community that can benefit from the rehabilitation of these roads.

“These opportunities are essential as the country recovers from the economic setbacks caused by the pandemic,” RAPID Project Director Maria Belenda Ambi conveyed.

the financial capability to put up a 5% counterpart fund; and, 3) technical capability to oversee the project implementation, conduct the required engineering surveys, preparation of Detailed Engineering Design (DED), Plans, and Program of Work.

Currently, the RAPID FMIs which is being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Local Government Units (LGUs), is expected to expand its reach to eight (8) more FMI sub-projects later this year in Region 8 and various areas in Mindanao where the Project operates, leading the road to recovery in selected farming communities.

(May 30, 2022)

FARM-TO-MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE

Rehabilitation and Improvement of Tinambacan FMR

SCALE (KILOMETER) 2.073

PROJECT COST PHP 30.086 M

VALUE CHAIN

KEY PLAYERS

SC Global, KAMMPIL Agricoop Coconut Farmers Organization

FARM-TO-MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE Improvement of Kaatuan FMR

SCALE (KILOMETER) 3.4 PROJECT COST PHP 54.123 M

VALUE CHAIN KEY PLAYERS Coffee Farmers, Linear Coffee Roaster, Dambana Coffee & Tea Traders

• COCONUT

Jaro, Leyte

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES (BARANGAYS)

Barangays Tinambacan, Rubas, Ugiao, Pitogo

NO. OF FARMERS IN THE AREA 797

NO. OF FARMERS’ ORGANIZATIONS 8

BARANGAYS (ROAD INFLUENCE AREA)

Barangays Tinambacan, Uguiao, Rubas-Crossing, Pitogo, Daro, Kalinawan, Villaconzoilo, and Canapuan

R8

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES (BARANGAYS)

Barangay Kaatuan, Lantapan, Bukidnon

NO. OF FARMERS IN THE AREA 1,442 NO. OF FARMERS’ ORGANIZATIONS 3

BARANGAYS (ROAD INFLUENCE AREA)

Barangays Kaatuan, Capitan Juan, Alanib, Baclayon

FARM-TO-MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE Improvement of Mabantao-Capungagan FMR

SCALE (KILOMETER) 2.703 PROJECT COST PHP 49.868 M

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES (BARANGAYS)

Barangays Mabantao and Capungagan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte

NO. OF FARMERS IN THE AREA 263 NO. OF FARMERS’ ORGANIZATIONS 8

BARANGAYS (ROAD INFLUENCE AREA)

Barangays Mabantao, Capungagan, Gupitan and some Barangays of the Municipality of San Isidro

Groundbreaking of Brgy. Tinambacan, Jaro, Leyte FMR

Groundbreaking of Brgy. Kaatuan, Lantapan, Bukidnon FMR (June 17, 2022)

Groundbreaking of Brgy. Kaatuan, Lantapan, Bukidnon FMR (June 17, 2022)

Groundbreaking of Brgys. MabantaoCapungagan, Kapalong FMR (June 20, 2022)

RAPID Growth Project Partners with ACDI/VOCA for the 2022 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition

The Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project and the ACDI/VOCA inked a partnership early this year for the conduct of the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) 2022. The said competition is an annual collaborative project organized by ACDI/VOCA and other coffee enablers which aims to inculcate the mindset of having best quality coffee products to farmers and processors.

RAPID Growth Project Director Maria Belenda Ambi conveyed that the coffee value chain is one of the high-value industries that the Project is trying to strengthen through various technical interventions and investment infusions. The collaboration with ACDI/VOCA, is in line with RAPID’s advocacy to encourage its stakeholders to innovate and adopt technologies that will improve the quality of its products and drive productivity.

“Better quality and improved productivity mean better price and more market opportunities for the producers and processors,” she added.

DTI 11 Inks Matching Grant Agreement (MGA) with Biao ARB Cooperative (BARBCO)

The Department of Trade and Industry Davao City Field Office (DTI-DCFO) inked a Matching Grant Agreement (MGA) with Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (BARBCO) last May 31, 2022 during the Ceremonial Signing held in Talandang, Davao City. DTI City Director Rachel Remitio and BARBCO Chairperson Godofredo Rangas spearheaded the MGA signing.

“The matching grant worth PhP1.594M which is provided through the Rural

Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, is intended to finance the approved productive investment and various business development support interventions of the cooperative so that it can upscale its Dried Fermented Cacao Beans (DFCB) operation. By upscaling its operation, other associations within its supply chain will benefit from its expected outcomes, namely, increase purchasing power of raw materials, and increased production capacity/

31, 2022 in Talandang, Davao City.

requirement,” RAPID Project Manager

Mae

Aside from the 445 smallholder farmers in Davao City, the assistance that will be provided to BARBCO as an anchor firm of the RAPID Growth Project will also be indirectly benefited by at least 262 smallholder farmers belonging to Southern Davao Multipurpose Cooperative (SDMC), UNICARBAI Multipurpose Cooperative (UMPC) in Davao Occidental.

Ms. Marifel Dela Cerna (7th from Left) of BACOFA accepts her Award together with the various enablers and organizers of the competition.

The PCQC 2022 concluded the competition last March 18, 2022 through an Awarding Ceremony at the Waterfront Hotel, Lanang, Davao City. RAPID-assisted farmers from Regions 11 and 12 topped the competition. Ms. Marifel Dela Cerna of Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association (BACOFA) in Davao del Sur was hailed as the Top 1 in Arabica Winners, while Ms. Lovern Estrada and Mr. Reyjohn Basco bagged the Second and Third Places in the Robusta Winners.

Ester Guiamadel conveyed as she witnessed the MGA ceremonial signing.

The Philippine Coffee Guild Team showcasing the SANREMO Coffee of Bukidnon.

From Left to Right: RAPID Regional Coordination Unit-11 Technical Division Chief Marilou D. Laguting, RAPID National Project Coordination Office’s (RAPID NPCO) Finance Service Officer Eduardo DE Castro, RAPID NPCO Project Manager Mae Ester T. Guiamadel, BARBCO Chairperson Godofredo Rangas, DTI Davao City Field Office Director Rachel S. Remitio, BARBCO Manager Guadalupe C. Ocial together with the other Board of Directors (standing at the back of the signatories) during the MGA Ceremonial Signing last May

TRADE FAIRS

GulFood 2022: The World’s Largest

A total of Ten (10) RAPID supported MSMEs from Mindanao were able to showcase their products in this prestigious International Trade Fair

Hybrid National Food Fair (HNFF) 2022 03-04 SM Mega Trade Hall, SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City June 1-4, 2022

A total of fifteen (15) MSMEs were promoted to the fair, and a total of thirty-three (33) potential project partners were identified through this national fair.

RAPID Project Manager Mae Ester Guiamadel 03 gave a Business Talk on RAPID Growth Project to the attendees of the HNFF 2022.

DTI-RAPID 9 Regional Marketing Coordinator 04 Michael Ignacio addresses the query of DTC Promos Inc President and COO, Ms. Marissa Dames.

The lifting of various CoViD-19 restrictions last March 2022 spurred the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project Team from the various Regional Coordination Units to participate various market promotion activities. These initiatives which is intended to generate sales and expand market opportunities of RAPID-assisted MSMEs were benefited by Seventy-three (73) MSMEs located in the various project areas in Mindanao and Region 8 and have generated more than PhP3.0 million Pesos worth of sales.

05-06 in Regions 9 and 12 May 27-29, 2022

DTI-12 Regional Director Jude Constantine Jaugan 05 visits one of the RAPID-assisted booths during the fair held at SM City General Santos City.

The DTI-RAPID 9 showcases some of its 06 assisted products during the simultaneous fair held at SM Mindoro, Zamboanga City.

DTI-RAPID 9 personnel showcase the various cacao-based products of assisted MSMEs at the 2nd Kakao Festival Plus.

Cacao Mindanao Chocolate Fairs

2nd Kakao Festival Plus 07-08 Provincial Capitol, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur February 14-15, 2022

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

RAPID Growth Project Beneficiaries Receive Leadership and Conflict Management Trainings

As part of the RAPID Growth Project’s services to its project beneficiaries, various business development interventions were provided by the Provincial Coordinating Unit of Zamboanga Sibugay in Region 9. Among these interventions was the conduct of three batches of Leadership and Conflict Management Training to the officers and farmer members of Batu Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO), Nanan Multipurpose Cooperative (NANAN MPC), and Del Monte Coconut Farmers Credit Cooperative (DELCOFACCO) in collaboration with the Negosyo Centers and DTI Provincial Office.

This institutional development training is part of the preparatory activities for the project beneficiaries which aims to help the

cooperative leaders in strengthening their leadership and management skills especially on the aspect of conflict management, developing a healthy organization, and creating a good working relationship between officers and members of the cooperative.

A total of Seventy-five (75) participants from the three cooperatives benefited from these capacity building activities which were respectively held on April 21-22, 2022 (NANAN MPC), May 12-13, 2022 (DELCOFACCO), and June 13-14, 2022 (BAFAMCO), and were facilitated by Ms. Myrna P. Damiles, Ll.B, a registered business development service provider in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The DTI RAPID Provincial Coordinating Unit of ZSP with the aide of Ms. Myrna Damiles, Ll, B. conducted a two-day training on Leadership and Conflict Management to the officers and farmer members of selected Farmerr’ Organizations.

Ms. Myrna Damiles, Ll, B.

Delmonte Coconut Farmers Credit Cooperative Delmonte, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay May 12-13, 2022

Batu Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Batu, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay June 13-14, 2022

Nanan Multi-Purpose Cooperative Nanan, Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay April 21-22, 2022

DEVELOPMENT

Agusan Del Sur Calamansi Processors Prepare the Ground for Better Market Opportunities

For the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), having a luscious and exquisite products are not enough to enter and penetrate a certain market. Aside from various consumer preferences and marketing strategies going on among the food industry players, compliance to regulatory and statutory requirements is another challenge that the MSMEs have to confront.

The Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project recognizes the importance of the latter especially in entering and penetrating the local and international markets. As such, through the assistance of a registered business development service provider in Agusan del Sur, a Documentary Writeshop was conducted last April 4-6, 2022, and was attended by Calamansi processors from the municipalities of Sta. Josefa and Trento, Agusan del Sur. The writeshop was conducted to assist the participants in preparing all the documentary requirements needed to acquire a License-to-Operate (LTO) from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

Ms. Emily Macalatas, one of the MSMEs who underwent the writeshop, extended her gratitude to the DTI-RAPID Growth Project,

requirements

The FDA-LTO is a primary requirement in doing business for food processors. As such, compliance to this requirement is essential in the project’s goal of upscaling the Calamansi Industry’s value chain of Agusan del Sur. With FDA-LTO available to assisted MSMEs, the RAPID Growth Project may be able to link them to anchor firms and other buyers that can offer better market opportunities to them.

RAPID-BARMM Initiates Consultation with the Coffee Industry Stakeholders of Maguindanao

Coffee players engaged in production, processing, and trading from the Province of Maguindanao gathered last May 18-19, 2022 at Hotel de Viajera, Koronadal City to participate in the Coffee Industry Stakeholders’ Consultation and Planning initiated by the Rural Agroenterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project -BARMM of the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT).

Director Husein Biruar of the Bureau of Trade and Industry (BTI) conveyed in his speech that the output of the consultation shall serve as the benchmark of the RAPID-BARMM Team in crafting the Detailed Investment Plan intended for the coffee stakeholders. As such, the participants actively participate during the discussion and planning which resulted into: 1) Leveling of expectation of participants in relation to the scope of assistance/interventions that the RAPID Growth Project can provide; 2) Identification of forward and backward linkages of the value chain operators; and, 3) Enhancement of the DIP and Business Marketing Model.

The RAPID-BARMM Team, together with the stakeholders praised the initiation of the activity for it did not only provide them a glimpse of the real situation of Maguindanao’s coffee industry, especially on the gaps in production, processing, and marketing, but also becomes a take-off for the succeeding interventions and consultations intended for the development of the industry.

“I am happy that through this assistance, I was able to comply all the

and am now ready to renew my registration so that I could have more market opportunities moving forward.”

SUPERVISION

The Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project underwent a Supervision and Implementation Support Mission (SISM) last March 21 – April 1, 2022 to track the progress of the project and assess the areas that the project has to improve to fast track its implementation. The IFAD-Philippines Team with their respective consultants, and the National Economic Development Authority formed the SISM Team.

Virtual Kick-off Meeting and Thematic Sessions with all RAPID Implementers and Partners March 21-22, 2022

IFAD Country Director Alessandro Marini provides some inputs during the Technical Meeting with DTI-RCU 9.

The SISM Mission Team (right side) having a discussion with the DTI-RCU 10 Team.

Technical Meetings with the Regional Coordination Units (RCUs) March 23-30, 2022

IFAD’s Yolando Arban taking the lead in the discussion during the Technical Meeting with DTI-RCU Caraga.

Discussion between the SISM Mission Team and the DTI-RCU 11 Team.

SUPERVISION & IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT MISSION

The series of activities conducted during the mission enabled the project implementers to communicate its accomplishments, good practices, and challenges in implementing the project. It also enabled the Mission Team to visit the Regional Coordination Units and their stakeholders which provided them a clear picture on the ground which served as among the basis of the Aide Memoire issued by IFAD. The Aide Memoire is the primary document which entails the result of the Mission and the agreed actions which are expected to be implemented in the succeeding months.

Consultation Meeting with the RCU 11 Stakeholders

Field Visits and Stakeholders’ Consultation together with the RCUs March 23-30, 2022

The SISM IFAD team hears out one of the farmers’ comments

IFAD Consultant Yolando Arban consulted with RAPID RCU 10 farmers

Wrap-up Meeting with DTI-RAPID Growth Project Management April 1, 2022 I Discovery Primea Hotel, Makati City

Photo opportunity of DTI-RAPID Growth Project Management with the SISM Team.

(from right to left) RAPID Growth Project Deputy Project Director Romeo Castańaga, Project Director Maria Belenda Ambi, DTI Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, IFAD Country Director Alessandro Marini, IFAD Consultants Sidni Morohombsar, Yolando Arban, and Ron Chua during the Wrap-up Meeting last April 1, 2022

IFAD Country Director Alessandro Marini visits one of the production areas of IFAD beneficiaries