BAGUIO CITY – To support the growing market of the Hi-Land Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (HLFMPC), the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), turned over a hauling truck Friday morning, as part of the Vegetable Consolidation and Marketing in Support to Kadiwa Program.
HLFMPC is embarking on an ambitious journey to expand its reach beyond the region. With the joint efforts of its officers and members, they have identified potential markets in Davao, Cebu, and Metro Manila. Thus, additional vehicles are needed to realize the expanding market of the cooperative.
HLFMPC initially provided a counterpart of PhP11 million for this project, then DA-CAR added an additional PhP2.5 million. From the accumulated budget of PhP13.5 million, PhP5.5 million was used to purchase the delivery vehicle, while the remaining PhP8 million will be allotted for operation and maintenance costs.
This project will directly benefit over 4,000 Cordilleran farmer-members of the cooperative and will generate 28 additional jobs.
With this, Marion Kimao, chairperson of the HLFMPC board of directors, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DA-CAR. He then assured DA-CAR that the grant would be used to the benefit of their members. Kimao also hoped the DA-CAR would continue its unwavering support to the farmers.
Meanwhile, Regional Technical Director for Operations Danilo Daguio congratulated the beneficiaries. Daguio asked the cooperative to continue a robust partnership with DA-CAR, especially if the agency needs to borrow the vehicle to be used mainly for hauling highland vegetables. By JBPeralta
