DTI Provincial Director Marlon A. Alabata of DTI Zamboanga Sibugay and his team identified the Batu Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO) of Batu, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, as one of the beneficiaries to the RAPID and Growth Program implemented in the province.

The program aims to propel agriculture-based processing enterprises and entrepreneurial communities to become innovative, productive, and competitive so that they will be capacitated in meeting the challenges of the global market.

Specifically, this project aims to provide focused, firm-level, value chain-based, and climate-smart assistance and financing program to micro and small businesses,  through enabling sectoral and trade policies which are designed to provide enhanced access to institutional, regional, and world markets.

In the case of BAFAMCO, the DTI  saw more potential for the cooperative to further innovation, better production, and global competitiveness of its coconut product. At present BAFAMCO is engaged in the production of virgin coconut oil (VCO) but with RAPID, DTI is optimistic that this cooperative will be producing other viable products from coconut in the near future.

PD Alabata requested the support of CDA Regional Director Ruben L. Cunanan on the organizational strengthening of BAFAMCO through capacity building Seminar titled Creating Opportunities for Coconut Organizations (C.O.C.O.). Director Cunanan readily acceded by sending Sr. CDS Ellen M. Ando to discuss governance and management during the scheduled seminar on September 10, 2020, in Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

DTI’s Provincial Project Coordinator Ms. Jane O. Casanova together with her team who facilitated the seminar ensured proper observance of precautionary measures and provided utmost hospitality to all especially the majority of the officers and some select members of BAFAMCO who were present during the seminar.

With the Five (5) year duration and the holistic development design of the RAPID and Growth Program, DTI and CDA hoped that BAFAMCO’s Coconut products will be competing in the international market soon.

By: Ellen M. Ando, Sr. CDS/CRITS