South Cotabato – The Provincial Government of South Cotabato released PHP2,500,000.00 worth of financial assistance to selected Tilapia fisher folk cooperatives and association in the province of South Cotabato, recently.
Kennylyn Ariño, Project Development Officer II, said the financial assistance was sourced from the Provincial Government’s share of the Philippine Rural Development Plan (PRDP) Fund.
“The fund aims to support the local economy through boosting small to medium cooperatives in various areas,” Ariño said.
Recipients of the PHP2.5M financial aid include six FCAs namely:
- Banga Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative
- Banga Fisher folk Association
- Surallah Association of Hatchery Workers
- Tipacoi Agricultural Cooperative
- Katipuneros Fisher folk Association, and;
- Tinifulan Kabuhayan Farm Agricultural Cooperative
Meanwhile, according to Juanito Bandiola, representative of the beneficiaries, this financial assistance is a great help to their industry in strengthening the local operation of their cooperatives and associations.
“I would like to thank the Provincial Government for their support to small fisher folk farmers. This [assistance] is a big help to us in strengthening our products and our local hatchery operation in our province”. – Bandiola said in his speech
(Nagapasalamat ako sang dako labi nag id sa Provincial Government sa suporta sa amon nga mga small fisherfolk farmers. Dako ini nga bulig labi na sa pagpakusog sang amon nga produkto kag pagpabakod sang local hatchery operation diri sa aton probinsya)
South Cotabato continues to reap the benefits of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), with several infrastructure and enterprise initiatives driving growth in the province’s agricultural sector.
Among these are the newly completed Crossing Fale–Riverside Farm-to-Market Road in Sto. Niño and the ongoing San Isidro–Buto FMR with bridge in Tampakan, which are improving farmers’ access to markets and reducing transport costs.
Enterprise projects such as the cassava granules production and marketing venture in Polomolok, the dairy production and processing facility, and the cacao production and processing enterprise have also empowered local cooperatives to boost productivity and income.
These PRDP projects are strengthening South Cotabato’s agri-based economy while promoting inclusive and sustainable rural development.
