CARAGA
PRDP Caraga turns over P9M coffee enterprise to SANIDECO
DA-PRDP Caraga officially turned over the ‘Consolidation and Processing of Green Coffee Beans’ subproject to the San Nicolas Development Cooperative (SANIDECO) and its cluster members on May 10 at Barangay Doña Carmen, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.
Totaling P9.6M, the subproject enables SANIDECO and its four cluster members in Tagbina to consolidate, process, and market green coffee beans through the provision of 30 units of all-weather solar dryers, a cargo truck and hauling truck, and additional buying capital, among others.
‘These interventions and the good practices of the cooperative have enabled us to produce good quality beans, increasing the price of our coffee and motivating members of our cooperative,’ said SANIDECO Chairman Gemma A. Pangan.
The subproject, which aims to develop Surigao del Sur’s coffee industry by addressing constraints in production, will be led and managed by SANIDECO. The cooperative will consolidate the products of four cluster members in Tagbina, namely the Doña Carmen Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DCMPC) in
Stories in this issue
P150M FMR in Surigao del Norte approved by RPAB 13
Showcasing Caraga’s best Robusta at the Philippine Coffee Expo 2024
Capacitating LGU partners on new information system SIDLAN Indigenous women in Surigao del Sur find empowerment in abaca production
P150M FMR in Surigao del Norte approved by RPAB 13
Caraga’s Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) approved a 5.84-kilometer FMR in Surigao del Norte for funding under the PRDP Scale-Up in a deliberation held on April 2 in Butuan City.
The San Isidro – Sico-sico farm-to-market road, estimated to cost P150M, aims to support the coconut industry in the municipality of Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, particularly in addressing constraints in the delivery of input supply and transportation.
DA-PRDP 13 Regional Project Director Arlan M. Mangelen emphasized the importance of ensuring that proposals under the PRDP Scale-Up would support priority commodities, leading to wider agricultural development within its influence area.
The RPAB, chaired by the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for the review and approval of all PRDP projects at the regional level.
Chaired by the Department of Agriculture, the RPAB is responsible for the review and approval of all PRDP projects at the regional level.
Full force at the deliberation were representatives from the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and members of the board, including representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Caraga region.
Banking on the gains of the original PRDP, the I-BUILD component under the PRDP Scale-Up will focus on delivering climate-resilient access and value chain infrastructure support to build distribution hubs and logistics systems. ###
Showcasing Caraga’s best Robusta at the PH Coffee Expo 2024
Two coffee enterprises from the Caraga region showcased their finest Robusta coffee at the recently concluded Philippine Coffee Expo 2024, held from June 7 – 9 at the One Ayala in Makati City.
The San Nicolas Development Cooperative (SANIDECO) from Tagbina, Surigao del Sur and the Casiklan Wheels Farmers Association Inc. (CAWFAI) from Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte are supported by the DA PRDP’s enterprise component. They are part of 16 I-REAP exhibitors at the expo, ten of which hail from Mindanao.
Considered the largest gathering of stakeholders from the Philippine coffee industry, the Philippine Coffee Expo is a three-day event where coffee farmers, roasters, cooperatives, enthusiasts, and experts converge for their love of coffee.
Featuring an array of activities, the Expo provides a platform for coffee enterprises to reach wider markets by forging connections
with local and international buyers.
Caraga’s best Robusta
In its third year, the Expo gathered ten DA-PRDP-supported coffee enterprises from Mindanao, two of which represent the best Robusta brews from the Caraga region. CAWFAI and SANIDECO have become household names for their consistent domination at the Coffee Quality Competition during the annually-held Caraga Coffee Festival.
“Through the Expo, our coffee enterprises gained wider market linkages. We saw a number of interested buyers of green coffee beans (GCB), as well as institutional markets that need bulk volumes of quality GCB,” said Organizational
Of ten participating coffee enterprises from Mindanao, CAWFAI ranked 2nd in highest booked sales with P10,335 in actual sales. SANIDECO, on the other hand, gained P11,735 in actual sales.
DA-PRDP Caraga continues its support for coffee farmers in the region, particularly in ensuring quality coffee through the provision of post-harvest facilities and market linkages.
“We will continue to provide additional training to ensure the quality of their coffee. We were able to gather ideas on how to level up their GCB, particularly on new technologies they can adopt,” adds Camba. ###
Development Officer Ronald G. Camba.
Kape Nicolas produced by SANIDECO and Las Casiklan produced by CAWFAI.
Indigenous women in Surigao del Sur find empowerment in abaca production
On a two-hour journey along a dangerous and unforgiving road, you will find a gem tucked away in the mountains of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
United through culture, shared determination and unshakeable resolve is the Kababayenhan Alang sa Malamboong Panginabuhian, a group of Indigenous women engaged in abaca production.
KAMAANAN, whose literal translation is ‘women for progressive livelihoods’, was formed as a response to the persistent struggles of the Manobo women in Barangay Pakwan. Although they had found a champion commodity in abaca, they still faced great hurdles in processing and marketing their products.
‘We stopped tending our farms as we struggled to find buyers
for our abaca. One buyer in San Miguel priced every kilo of machine-stripped abaca fiber at P18 while hand-stripped abaca went for P8 per kilo,’ said KAMAANAN Chairman Myrna Opitan.
Punctuated by a lack of access to appropriate post-harvest equipment, the association struggled to break into new markets, forcing them to settle for the low prices offered by a limited pool of customers.
‘The prices of our products did not meet our satisfaction, but these were also a result of its low quality,’ shares KAMAANAN Treasurer Aurita Bachicha.
Caraga’s abaca industry
Considered a leading supplier of abaca in the Philippines, (Caraga ranked 3rd highest in abaca production within the second quarter of 2023), the region
supplies abaca as raw materials for pulp production, cordage production, and handicrafts in neighboring towns including Iligan City, Leyte, and Bicol.
Taking strides towards increased income, in 2023 KAMAANAN became the Lead Proponent Group of the Abaca Fiber Processing and Marketing subproject. Funded under the Second Additional Financing and European Union Co-Financing Grant (AF2-EU), the subproject consists of P5M worth of interventions, including the provision of eight units of mobile stripping machines, five hauling vehicles, and P426,883 in additional buying capital.
These interventions have already resulted in noticeable differences in the association’s operations.
‘This has been a great help to our livelihood. With the stripping machines, we see a great
From left: Municipal Agriculturist Marin Camacho and KAMAANAN Chairman Myrna Opitan.
difference in quality. P70 per kilo is now the lowest buying price,’ adds Bachicha.
Today the association stands strong with 68 members (65 of which are Manobo women, the remaining 3 being widows of late members) and six cluster members.
As the association continues to grow, it is seen to hold a great role in developing the industry within the province of Surigao del Sur.
‘The municipal abaca council envisions Lanuza becoming a supplier of quality abaca to the province of Surigao del Sur. With its sub-clusters, KAMAANAN acts as a ‘Big Brother’ in the municipality. We envision them becoming a main consolidator within the whole province,’ said Municipal Agriculturist Marin Camacho.
Finding empowerment in abaca
Reflecting on what the organization takes pride in, KAMAANAN
Chairman Myrna ponders on the economic empowerment she has found within the confines of her own home.
‘We take pride in the great respect we have gained from our husbands. Before KAMAANAN, we observed that there is conflict (in the home) around income and how the wives
had no contributions. This is not the case today as both the husband and the wife are earning,’ she shares.
Moving forward, the group hopes to expand abaca production and consolidation, even planning to establish a training center for handicrafts-making right in the heart of Barangay Pakwan. The group actively trains its young members in managing the organization, anticipating a bright future for their families. ###
From left: KAMAANAN Treasurer Aurita Bachicha, Datu David P. Abao, Lanuza Mayor Marvin Azarcon, Welmar Dawog, Hon. Myrna M. Dawog, Bae Elsa A. Abao, and KAMAANAN Member Jennifer Agustin.
Considered a leading supplier in the Philippines, the Caraga region supplies abaca as raw materials for pulp production, specialty papermaking, cordage making, and handicrafts.
Bangus enterprise harvests
10.7MT in first catch
The Makanunayong Mananagat Association sa Ata-atahon (MMAA), Inc. successfully harvested 10.7 metric tons of bangus/milkfish as part of their first production cycle on April 30 at Barangay Ata-atahon, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
MMAA is a beneficiary of the Bangus Production and Marketing subproject funded
under DA-PRDP’s enterprise or IREAP component. This includes the provision of two Norwegian fish cages and 105,000 pieces of garungan (bangus/milkfish) fingerlings delivered to the association last October.
MMAA Manager Eddie A. Nakila expressed his gratitude for the subproject as it has resulted in noticeable improvements for the
fisherfolk members of MMAA, even extending to the wider community in Brgy. Ata-atahon.
Buyers from Cebu and Butuan City lined up for MMAA’s first production harvest. Completed in November 2023, the association has yet to fully harvest its two Norwegian cages. ###
Mindanao planners gather to update cassava VCA
To update the current Value Chain Analysis (VCA) for the development of the cassava industry in Mindanao, planners from DA PRDP’s I-PLAN components across six regions gathered for the VCA Updating Preliminary Activity held in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte from April 22 – 24.
The VCA is a scientific tool employed by DA-PRDP to analyze
specific activities and interventions that can create value and competitive advantage within the segments of the value chain.
IPLAN Component Head Roberto Hipolao, Jr. emphasized the need to boost cassava production in Mindanao to meet the gap between supply and demand, especially in the food consumption and feeds industry.
Key representatives from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) and provincial governments attended the preliminary activity, where they leveled off on the processes and timelines in the updating of the VCA. Situationers on the cassava industry per region were also presented.
Cassava remains a priority commodity among all the regions in Mindanao. ###
Capacitating LGU partners on new information system SIDLAN
With preparations underway for the implementation of the DA-PRDP Scale-Up, partner implementers in the Local Government Units (LGU) were trained and onboarded on the use and navigation of the new Management Information System (MIS) called SIDLAN through an encoding workshop held from May 28 – 31, at Butuan City.
Spearheaded by PRDP Caraga’s I-PLAN component with the assistance of the Project Support Office (PSO) Mindanao, the workshop aims to assist LGU partners and project implementers in navigating the new information system.
SIDLAN is an online platform developed specifically to support DA-PRDP’s project monitoring and database management in the Scale-Up. It serves as a centralized data bank for real-time monitoring of
the progress of PRDP-funded subprojects.
DA-PRDP’s partners in the LGUs were onboarded on the I-PLAN subsystem in SIDLAN, PRDP’s new Management Information System for the PRDP Scale-Up.
“Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) involves all of DA-PRDP’s stakeholders, especially our partners in the LGU and our Proponent Groups who are the main sources of our data,” said PSO Mindanao MEL Officer Maribel Ching.
PRDP Caraga Planning Officer Sherlyn Dawn Lincuna also emphasized the importance of accurately encoding and migrating data into the new information system. The data encoded in SIDLAN will serve as input for comprehensive analysis and reporting of subproject progress.
Throughout the workshop, LGU partners were onboarded on the I-PLAN subsystem in SIDLAN, enabling them to encode non-PRDP-funded
investments identified in their Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIPs) as the DA-PRDP team continued to migrate I-PLAN documents such as the Value Chain Analysis (VCA) and Commodity Investment Plans (CIPs) into the SIDLAN system.
I-PLAN counterparts from the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Units (PPMIUs) of the five provinces in the Caraga region were in attendance at the encoding workshop. Well-performing LGUs were also recognized at the activity, including the LGU with the most number of Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) encoded in the SIDLAN (a recognition given to Surigao del Sur) and LGUs that have encoded 324 PAPs and 40 PAPs in the system since October (given to Agusan del Sur and Butuan City, respectively). ###
Continued from page 1...
Brgy. Doña Carmen, the Greenfield Farmers Association (GFA) in Brgy. Sta. Juana, the Hinagdanan – Soriano Farmers Association (HiSoFA) in Brgy. Hinagdanan and the Maglatab Farmers Association in Brgy. Maglatab.
Municipal Agriculturist Warlito D. Untua encouraged the cooperatives to take ownership and care of the subproject in the hopes that future generations of coffee farmers may still be able to enjoy its benefits.
IREAP Component Head Lynn A. Pareñas underscored the evolving role of SANIDECO’s farmer members from mere producers to full-fledged entrepreneurs as they will now be managing an enterprise.
With the turn-over of the subproject, SANIDECO Manager Liezel F. Chavaria hopes to expand their business operations, envisioning their growth to a medium enterprise in five years.
In attendance at the ceremony were Assistant Provincial Administrator Engr. Juliet F. Perez, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Romel M. Oribe, Municipal Agriculturist Warlito D. Untua, IREAP Component Head Lynn A. Pareñas, Executive Assistant Arturo B. Espenilla, Jr., Punong Barangay Cesario A. Quirequire, and a representative from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). ###
CARAGA
PRDP inFOCUS is the quarterly newsletter of the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) 13
EDITORIAL BOARD
EMMYLOU T. PRESILDA
Editor-in-chief
NICHOLE L. TALATALA
Writer/Layout Artist
WILFREDO C. ABREA
LEONARD ASUQUE
Photographers
ARLAN M. MANGELEN
Project Director
JODEL A. TABADA
Deputy Project Director