COCONUT hub projects and irrigation systems were among the initial projects that were ceremonially turned over to farmers groups through the Biyaya ng Pagbabago program last Saturday.
In last Saturday's program the National Irrigation Administration and the Philippine Coconut Authority bared the news to several farmers in identified areas.
The Philippine Coconut Authority ceremonially turned over P86 million worth allocation for the coconut hub programs for three target coconut groups.
To receive an allocation of P15 million is the Cawa Dadiangas Farmers Marketing Cooperative (CDFMC) in Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao, recognized as one of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) communities by the Joint Normalization Committee under the GRP-MILF Peace Agreement.
CDFMC proposed an Integrated Coconut Farming Facility. The fund is for the purchase of the coconut processing machineries and facilities for coir and white copra.
Another proponent for coconut hub which will receive allocation is the Cocolife Multipurpose cooperative in Compostela Valley. This group will receive P12,352,124.15 allocation for the purchase of the coconut processing machineries.
The group which got worth P59,550,000 allocation is Task Force Mapalad, a federation of farmers, farm workers and individuals, which intends to collaborate with PCA in the establishment of coconut hub involving the production of coir, briquettes, activated carbon, and coco sugar.
Aside from PCA, the NIA also awarded the irrigation systems of eleven identified irrigators associations.
These includes Bala Kanapulo Communal Irrigators Association Inc, Bankerohan Sur Irrigators Farmers Association Inc, Albatana-Blucon Malabis Communal Irrigators Association, Inc., Buhangin Davao City Callawa Farmers Irrigators Associations, Inc., Balingaeng Los Amigos Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc, Lupon Banaybanay Federation of Irrigators Associations, Mandaya-Manorigao Farmers Irrigators Associations, Barangay Mapawa Irrigators Association Inc Comval, Miral Balutakay SRIP Federation Communal Irrigators Association Inc, Padada Irrigators Association Inc, and Pamacuan Communal Irrigator's Association Inc.
It was announced that sum total communal irrigation system development projects to be turned over for Region 11 will generate a total of 4,706 hectares of additional irrigated land benefitting a total of 3,670 farmers.
The official Biyaya ng Pagbabago launch held last Saturday was attended by heads of various agencies and was spearheaded by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio "Jun" Evasco Jr. and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. (KVC)