The Department of Agriculture (DA) Mimaropa together with the Local Governments in Occidental Mindoro holds its groundbreaking ceremonies to mark the start of the construction of onion cold storage facilities in the municipalities of Rizal and Sablayan on August 1, 2023.
The said onion cold storage facilities have a capacity of 20,000 onion bags each with a total cost of P40 million per facility. The funding from the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) was granted to the Salvacion United Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SUFMPC) in Rizal and Samahang Gumagawa Tungong Tagumpay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SAGUTT MPC) in Sablayan.
This project aims to help onion farmers to properly store their produce and maintain its quality before being sold or released to the market. “Ngayon ay sigurado nang itatayo dito ang ating cold storage, hindi na tayo mabubulukan ng sibuyas at maibebenta na natin sa tamang presyo ang mga ito,” said Rizal Mayor Ernesto C. Pablo Sr.
Meanwhile, the farmers were reminded to protect and preserve the cold storage facilities so that more onion farmers can benefit in the province. It is also expected that the cooperative organizations will strengthen due to this provision.
“Ang pangarap naming mga magsasaka na magkaroon ng ganitong kalaking proyekto ay natupad na. Maisasakatuparan na at makakatulong sa maraming nagtatanim ng sibuyas dito po sa aming bayan. Ito po ay aming iingatan sa mga miyembro po ng ating Kooperatiba at dapat po ay tangkilikin natin itong cold storage upang mapanatili itong maayos,” said Bristan A. Montales, Chairperson of SUFMPC.
“Ang SAGUTT MPC po ay patuloy na nag-aaral para lahat ng commitment namin sa gobyerno ay aming magawa at para sa lahat ng pangarap ng miyembro at ng kooperatiba ay makamit po namin. Sana po hindi lang ang kooperatiba ang yumaman pati po ang mga miyembro. Kaya po ang aming kooperatiba ay patuloy na nangangarap hindi lamang po sa aming sarili kundi para po sa komunidad ng Sablayan at buong Occidental Mindoro,” said Livelyn F. Castillo, Chairperson of SAGUTT MPC.
DA Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Engr. Maria Christine C. Inting also encourages the farmers to improve its onion cultivation for preparation of the Philippines’ exportation to other countries.
“Kung ang mga kooperatiba ay may pangarap, kami din po sa rehiyon ay may pangarap rin. Sa ngayon ay ginagawan na namin ng paraan na makapag-export tayo ng sibuyas sa ibang bansa. Gaya ng bagong mandato ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.– Masaganang Agrikultura! Maunlad na Ekonomiya!,” said Inting.
This project is part of the program of the Department of Agriculture under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen food security by having an adequate supply and adequate price of food. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)
