La Trinidad, Benguet – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has opened a new door of opportunities for the farmer-members of the Caliking Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (CFMPC) when it spearheaded the construction of a coffee processing center here.

Lailani A. Cortez, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II said the Processing Center, with a funding counterpart from CFMPC, aims, among others, to produce quality roasted coffee beans to be marketed initially locally.

“CFMPC is a recipient of the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project that aims to enhance the products of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) by using appropriate facilities and equipment applicable to the agri-business enterprise of the cooperative,” Cortez said.

Cortez disclosed that the DAR will lead in the project implementation and assist in the construction of the processing center while providing the necessary technical assistance for the enterprise’s Food and Drug Administration -License to Operate (FDA-LTO) registration.

“The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will help in the marketing, product promotion, and provision of production equipment,” she added.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will provide technical assistance in the conduct of product laboratory analyses and provision of packaging and labeling services while the local government of Atok will facilitate the processing of building permits for the electrification of the CFMPC.

Atok, Benguet Mayor Franklin Smith witnessed the ceremonial groundbreaking and signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by and between the DAR, DTI, DOST, and CFMPC for the construction of the food processing center located in Km. 38 Abiang, Caliking, Atok, Benguet, and is expected to be finished by September 2024.

La Trinidad, Benguet – Nagbukas ng bagong pinto ng oportunidad ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) para sa mga miyembrong magsasaka ng Caliking Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (CFMPC) nang pangunahan nito ang pagtatayo ng coffee processing center dito.

Sinabi ni Lailani A. Cortez, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II na ang processing center, na may pondong katapat mula sa CFMPC, ay naglalayon, bukod sa iba pa, na makagawa ng mga de-kalidad na roasted coffee beans na unang ibebenta sa lokal na pamilihan.

“Ang CFMPC ay isa sa tumanggap ng proyektong Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) na naglalayong pahusayin ang mga produkto ng agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng mga angkop na pasilidad at kagamitan na naaangkop sa agri-business enterprise ng kooperatiba,” ani Cortez.

Ibinunyag ni Cortez na ang DAR ang mangunguna sa pagpapatupad ng proyekto at tutulong sa pagtatayo ng processing center habang magbibigay ito ng kinakailangang teknikal na tulong para sa pagpaparehistro sa Food and Drug Administration -License to Operate (FDA-LTO) ng proyekto.

"Ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ay tutulong sa pagbebenta, promosyon ng produkto, at pagkakaloob ng pasilidad sa produksyon," dagdag niya.

Ang Department of Science and Technology (DOST) ay magbibigay ng tulong teknikal sa pagsasagawa ng product laboratory analysis at pagbibigay ng packaging at labeling services habang ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Atok ay tutulong sa pagproseso ng building permit para sa elektripikasyon ng CFMPC.

Sinaksihan ni Atok, Benguet Mayor Franklin Smith ang seremonyal na groundbreaking at paglagda ng Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ng DAR, DTI, DOST, at CFMPC para sa pagtatayo ng food processing center na matatagpuan sa Km. 38 Abiang, Caliking, Atok, Benguet, at inaasahang matatapos ito sa Setyembre 2024.