Two brand new trucks and one close van from DA-PRDP now used by banana growers in Kidapawan City to boost marketing in NCR

NEWS | 2021/03/25 | LKRO

(Kidapawan City, March 24, 2021) – Two Mitsubishi hauling trucks drop side and one brand new Mitsubishi hauling wing close van from the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) are now being used by members of the Mua-an farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (MFMC) in Kidapawan City to strengthen enhancement consolidation and marketing of fresh lakatan bananas in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Kidapawan City Agriculturist Marissa T. Aton informed that banana growers and members of MFMC will now have more opportunity to bring larger volumes of bananas as the new hauling trucks will hasten transport from farm to the market and will deploy the hauling close van in Metro Manila to accommodate more buyers in the area.

“This is to improve our banana growers in terms of mobility, volume of delivery, and eventually the income as they make use of the projects given by the agriculture department”, said Aton adding that the City Agriculturist Office continue to partner with the DA for other notable assistances to farmers in Kidapawan City. 

“This forms part of the different programs and projects mandated by Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista to help our farmers and cooperatives recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”, Aton also said.

The Mua-an FMC, before the arrival of the new vehicles from DA-PRDP does not have any hauling truck and only use personal vehicles to carry or transport their products and therefore needs to acquire larger units.

The vehicles come with package that includes trading capital for P900,000 and plastic crates worth P100,000 or a total of P9,120,600.00 project cost with a counterpart scheme of 60% (World Bank), 20% (DA), and 20% for the City Government as the implementing agency which is P1,464,120.

The DA-PRDP handed over the Certificate of Ownership to Mua-an FMC in a simple turn-over ceremony held at Barangay Manongol yesterday, March 24, 2021.

Kidapawan City Legal Officer Atty. Jose Paolo M. Evangelista representative of Mayor Evangelista witnessed the turn-over and congratulated the banana growers for having the new vehicles which made them more equipped in terms of transporting their products.

“While it is true that the banana growers are among those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and other calamities, things now continue to get better for them”, said Atty. Evangelista. “The City Government would like to see Mua-an FMC to reach its full potential as a cooperative through the strong partnership with the Office of the City Agriculturist”, he added. 

The City Government also continues to link with the DA-PRDP so as to let the local farmers avail of the projects of the agency and to improve their living conditions especially in the present situation of Covid19 pandemic. (AJPME/jscj)