A Php 4.8 Million cacao processing center, along with its site/land development and perimeter fence, have been broken ground in Kadingilan, Bukidnon. The said Bukidnon cacao processing center is located in Barangay Balaoro, Kadingilan.

Members of the Balaoro Farmers Association (BAFA) Inc., representatives of the contractor as well as government officials were in attendance.

According to the Public Affairs and Information Assistance (PAIA) Division of the Provincial Governor’s Office said that the program is under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

Emma C. Ravelo, provincial supervising agriculturist, said that the entire project has a total allocation of Php 10,905,944.00.

She said the Php 5,234,361.60 of the total budget is a loan from World Bank, the Philippine Government and Provincial Government of Bukidnon has a share of Php 1,744,787.20 each, and Php 2,182,011.82 from BAFA as counterpart.

She said Php 4,800,000.00 of the total budget is intended for Cacao Processing Center, Php 2,469,000.00 for the purchase of hauling vehicle, Php 1,245,800.00 for the processing equipment and Php 209,076.00 for the raw materials.

The lot area for the processing center is 800 square meters while the building has a 200 sq. mtrs. lot area.

BAFA representatives expressed their gratitude to concerned government officials for supporting their projects. BAFA has a total number of members of 104 wherein 80 of them have cacao plantations of about 70 hectares. The group has been selling tablea to other provinces.

The farmer’s association is the first beneficiary in Bukidnon for DA-PRDP under Rural Enterprise and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP). (with report from Bukidnon Online special correspondent Mel Madera)

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