The DAR Project ConVERGE Regional Project Management Office 10 conducted a five (5) day on site visit to the 4 (four) ARC Clusters from February 17- 21, 2020. The activity was purposely conducted to discuss the agreed actions of the Mid Term Review (MTR), follow-up the Supervision and Implementation Support (SIS) Aide Memoire findings, and facilitate Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the key coop officers, both on the lead and participating ARBOs.
The enterprises visited were the Cassava Production and Marketing of Granules and Corn Production and Marketing (secondary crop) at North Bukidnon ARC Cluster. Bukidnon Muscovado Processing and Marketing and Soya Beans Production and Marketing (secondary crop) at South Bukidnon ARC Cluster. While at the MISORET ARC Cluster were the Coco Sap Sweetener Production and Abaca Fiber Production and Marketing (secondary crop). And lastly was the Abaca Fiber Production and Marketing at the LABACO ARC Cluster in Camiguin.
The ARBOs in the North Bukidnon ARC Cluster in Manolo Fortich and Libona, Bukidnon have agreed to raise initial working capital independent from financial or credit institutions. The agreement will materialize by putting up investment with the signing of joint venture agreement that covers return of guaranteed bank rates & incentives to the cooperatives involved.
Meanwhile, the LABACO ARC Cluster in Camiguin and MISORET ARC Cluster in Misamis Oriental, have come up to pursue local seed propagation of abaca seedlings to prevent entry of foreign infestations and at the same time a local infrastructure that can immediately support the production expansion needs of the 2 (two) clusters. It was also interesting to note that LABACO ARC Cluster in Camiguin is weighing on with the idea of an immersion program proposed to institutions to address the erratic number of available farm workers and their mood tendencies, such as deco operators.
Furthermore, the Lead ARBOs of the four (4) clusters have started to generate financial statements through the installed financial accounting system. The RPMO 10 monitoring team have taken note of these good and emerging practices and packaged to be made available to the rest of the enterprises who might encounter the same struggle in the future.
Moreover, concerns were also tackled during the site visits. The Regional Project Management Office 10 project coordinators and hired specialists have thoroughly discussed with the ARBOs all viable options to help resolve the concerns at source. The RPMO 10 is steadfast to continually follow-up the agreed action plans with the help of the Provincial Project Management Offices.
