Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. – The Pasig Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PARBUF – MPC) in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur received a livelihood assistance in the amount of Seven Hundred Twenty-One Thousand and Seven Hundred Fifty (P721,750.00) Pesos on April 11, 2019. The grant will be purchased for mechanical slicers, other production equipment and initial inventory for its banana chips production.

In his inspirational message, DOLE XI Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante said that part of Executive Order 70 signed by President Duterte is the convergence of government agencies and pooling of their resources and technical capabilities to attain  sustainable peace and development in the grass root level which is an advantage especially to organized small cooperatives and associations.

When asked of the assistance, Coop Chairman Josephine Barsalote said, “Nasisiyahan talaga kami sa biyaya na binigay nang DOLE, lalo na yong inaasam-asam namin na mechanical slicer para sa saging. Doble-doble ang ma-slice na saging nang ekipo na yan. Pwede na naming tanggapin yong mga orders in volume.”

The cooperative has one hundred thirty-eight (138) members of which 20 are indigenous people and 52 are parents of former child laborers. /By Eduardo P. Monreal, LCO-Designate, DOLE RO XI