A-One (1) Unit Brand New Refrigerated Van worth Php2.55 million was formally turned over to the Unified Engineering Workers MPC representing as the second tranche of support assistance from the provincial government of South Cotabato under the Philippine Rural Development Program.
Mr. Henry Pajate, President of the UEWMPC formally received the said vehicle from Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. together with DA-12 Regional Director Arlan Mangelen during the Monday Flag Raising Ceremony held at the Capitol Covered Court.
The UEWMPC is the lead proponent group of the Php47.4 million project under the PRDP project entitled “Dairy Production, Processing, and Marketing” under the Department of Agriculture.
“Rest assured we will maximize the utilization of the vehicle to sustain the project and continue with the partnership,” Pajate said,
The provision of the ref van aims to support the marketing and promotional strategies of the beneficiaries and help ferry dairy products to their different markets so that the freshness and good quality of milk will be kept and maintained.
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo expressed his gratitude to the DA-12 for the never-ending support to the local farmers.
DA-12 RD Mangelen on the other hand said these supports aim to achieve the “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita” for them.
Under the PRDP project in partnership with the DA, the provincial government has a counterpart of Php6.75 million as funding support to the project.
Aside from the newly turned-over ref van, the province has released a total of Php3.86 million for the first tranche last year. This was used for the purchase of 10 units chest type freezers, Php483,200; 1 unit Upright Glass freezer, Php81,795; 1 unit Generator Set for Processing Plant, Php802,000; 5 units Forage Chopper, Php1.07 million; 5 units milking machine, Php342,500; and 5 units Motorized Trailer, Php1.07 million.
Other funds for the dairy project came from the Government of the Philippines (GOP), which has a counterpart of Php6.7 million for the project; Php 13.6 million for the UEWMPC as the proponent group; and Php20.2 million Loan Proceeds from World Bank.
Aside from the production of dairy cow’s milk as one of the potential commodities that can contribute to the dairy industry in the province and improve quality of life, the project will also serve as a dairy multiplier farm with the “Balik Baka ” Scheme from the NDA.
According to Veterinarian IV Byron Dela Cruz of the Provincial Veterinary Office, dairy milk is a lucrative potential commodity and the percentage of importation as high as 90 % is based on supply and demand in the local market.
“It was also known that the country produces only 1% total production of milk in one year and fresh milk is more nutritious compared to fortified or commercial powdered milk.” He said,
To date, fresh dairy milk is being used for the supplemental feeding projects in the province.
The project is already the fourth PRDP project in South Cotabato. Other projects include the Php39-million enterprise development project for the production of cassava granules and marketing; Php17.9 million “Integrated Cacao Production, Processing, and Marketing of Fermented cacao Beans; and the Php17 million coffee project dubbed as “Enhancement of Production and Marketing of Dried Green Coffee Beans”.
