DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director Jodel A. Tabada (woman with a shovel) together with SP Committee on Infrastructure Vicente Rizal Rosario (man with a shovel at the left), Lt. Coronel Francisco Molina and Coop Chairman Samuel Calawigan headed the groundbreaking ceremony for the P8.4 million Infra Support of the Integrated Rubber Production and Marketing Project for the Km. 7 Farmers’ Producers Cooperative in Tungao, Butuan City. (Photo by Fred Abrea)

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) breaks ground for the construction of the P8.4 Million Infrastructure Component of the Integrated Rubber Production and Marketing Project of Km. 7 Farmers’ Producers Cooperative (Km7FPC) in Tungao, Butuan City last April 3.

The P8.4 Million is part of the P22.4 Million approved Enterprise subproject for the (Km7FPC) that comprises the construction of a warehouse, seedling production building and seedbed to support the rubber growers of the locality.
“This project will surely help us reach our target of 500-hectare increase in rubber plantation per year. We also have started helping the rubber growers of the neighboring municipalities and not just the cluster members here in Butuan,” said General Manager Nilo Calipayan.

Calipayan said that they currently have a cumulative rubber planted area of around 1400 hectares for all the members of the Cooperative and he is expecting an increase in production after the completion of the project from DA-PRDP.

The members of the cooperative have been known for being industrious and united in helping one another. “We’re confident that a project like this will be handled well by the Cooperative since they have proven their good reputation and their zeal in this kind of business is outstanding,” said Deputy Project Director Jodel Tabada.

The projects will help the Cooperative to act as the service provider for the prospective rubber growers in Butuan City and will be providing inputs, tools, budded rubber planting materials of recommended clones considering that Km7FPC is an accredited Rubber Nursery of the Bureau of Plant Industry.
The Cooperative will also become the consolidation and trading center of rubber cup lumps in Tungao and nearby barangays. According to Calipayan, they also plan to process their rubber in the future by milling it to crumb rubber which will let them earn an additional amount of P8 per kilo.

Other than the P22.4 Million project, DA-PRDP has also approved and will soon start the implementation of the 9.82 km Farm-to-Market Road amounting to P158.9 Million to support the Cooperative’s enterprise and the rubber industry in Butuan.

The groundbreaking was headed by PRDP Regional Deputy Project Director Jodel A. Tabada together with City Administrator Rey Desiata, SP Committee on Infrastructure Vicente Rizal C. Rosario, Coop General Manager Nilo Calipayan, Coop Chairman Samuel Caliwanagan, PRDP-Caraga Infra Component Head Engr. Rene Morales, Cluster Members, and Barangay officials. (Fretcher Magatao, DA-PRDP Caraga)