The Samasabalatasan Agriculture Cooperative in Barangay Balatasan, Oriental Mindoro, recently celebrated a significant milestone with the inauguration of their brand new processing facility on May 4, 2024. This achievement was made possible through a grant aid from the people and government of the Republic of Korea, in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

The inauguration ceremony was attended by officers and members of the cooperative, representatives from GGGI, the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, and the Municipal Cooperative Development Office. The excitement was palpable as the attendees witnessed the unveiling of the new facility, a testament to the cooperative’s dedication to empowering its members and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The grant provided a total of 7.3 million pesos, with 2.8 million specifically allocated for equipment. This includes a noodle maker and cutter, a dehydrator, air dryers, disk washing machines, palettes, exhaust fans, coding machines, sealing machines, a push cart, weighing scales, an analyzer machine, and other essential tools. The cooperative’s equity in this ambitious project covered travel expenses, training expenses and representation costs, reflecting their commitment to making this initiative a reality.

With this state-of-the-art facility, the Samasabalatasan Agriculture Cooperative is now equipped to process a wider variety of agricultural products. Their current offerings include seaweed canton, “shing-aling” (a type of seaweed salad), “rich-sea” shampoo, and soap. The new equipment will allow them to increase production efficiency, improve product quality, and explore the development of new and innovative products.

This project is a shining example of international cooperation fostering economic growth and agricultural development in the Philippines. The grant aid from the Republic of Korea, coupled with the technical expertise of GGGI, has empowered the Samasabalatasan Agriculture Cooperative to become a more significant player in the local market. The cooperative’s success story serves as an inspiration to other agricultural communities, demonstrating the potential of collaborative efforts to uplift lives and promote sustainable practices.