POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato – The Tibud sa katibawasan Multi-Purpose Coop.(TSKMPC) formally received the Key of Responsibility and certificate from DA-12 regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen and Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. represented by Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Raul Teves for the Php17.9 million Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) dubbed as “ Integrated Cacao Production, Processing, and marketing on Fermented Cacao Beans during the turn-over ceremony held yesterday at the Project Site, Brgy. Bentung Sulit this town.
TSKMPC Chairman Lubin R. Tumbagahan expressed his gratitude to the agriculture department and the provincial government for all the support they have extended to their coop.
Tumbagahan said they have endured many hardships during the process of implementation of the project but now, they are reaping the fruits of their hard work and are happy with the results.
“From our humble beginnings for the past 29 years of the existence of our coops, we can just look back on how we were before.” He said,
TSKMPC as the lead proponent group for the project has a total of 199 direct farmer-beneficiaries coming from other cluster members. These include the cacao-Cocoa Growers Association in Koronadal City, Glamang Small Coconut Farmers Association in Polomolok, TUBAGA Producers Cooperative in Tupi; Lambayong Diversified Farmers’ Coop, and Palo 19 Farmers Association in Tampakan.
Based on the total project cost, the provincial government extends a total of Php2.3 million as financial support to the project.
The Government of the Philippines through the DA-12 also extends another Php2.3 million, while the Proponent Group (TSKMPC) has to shell out Php6.3 million as their counterpart.
Also part of the project is the Loan Proceeds from the World Bank amounting to Php6.9 million.
The project seeks to increase the income of farmer-beneficiaries through sustainable cacao production, processing, and trading activities.
From the initial 150 hectares covered, it aims to increase with an average to 38 hectares per year to sustain its operation for the next ten years and beyond.
