Agusan Sur vows to aid coops involved in crude palm oil processing venture
By
Jennifer Gaitano
Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. vowed to support cooperatives, especially in the establishment of the crude palm oil processing plant in Barangay Lapinigan in the town of San Francisco.
Members
of the NGPI Multipurpose Cooperative met with the governor to discuss the crude
palm oil processing plant project. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Agusan del Sur personnel also witnessed the said meeting.
Crude palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of palm trees. Two types of oil can be produced: crude palm oil, which comes from squeezing the fleshy fruit, and palm kernel oil, which comes from crushing the kernel, or the stone in the middle of the fruit.
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Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. met the members of the NGPI Multipurpose Cooperative and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur and vowed to support the cooperative in the establishment of a crude palm oil processing plant. Photo courtesy of DTI-Agusan del Sur.
According to Marson Jan Dolendo, officer-in-charge of DTI-Agusan del Sur, the plant will help to prosper in economic development by assisting the 13 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), 85 individual oil palm growers, and some 2,233 members of NGPI Multipurpose Cooperative.
“This
will also generate 90 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs, which will also
benefit those who are in the neighboring municipalities,” said Dolendo.
NGPI
Multipurpose Cooperative sought the support of the Provincial Local Government
Unit (PLGU) of Agusan del Sur, through Gov. Cane, for essential assistance in
the establishment of the crude palm oil processing plant with the presence of
Joy Lagat of the Provincial Accounting Office, Jay Bordaje of the Provincial
Budget Office, Dr. Trisha Goloran of the Provincial Planning Development
Office, and Josephine Amongan, chief of staff of the Provincial Governor’s
Office.
The NGPI
were represented by Nestor Alcular, chairperson; Gil Villaceran, Vivencio
Alalan, and Arfe MuΓ±asque, board of directors; Edgar Alcolentava, consultant;
and Ilynn Caiquito, general manager.
With
this, NGPI Multipurpose Cooperative outlined their requests for the provision
of heavy equipment for site development and to conduct a site inspection to
assess the scope of work and estimate the costs required for the site
development.
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The members of the NGPI Multipurpose Cooperative discussed with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur and Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. the necessary interventions they need to realize the establishment of a crude palm oil processing plant project. Photo courtesy of DTI-Agusan del Sur.
Also, the proposed project is undergoing technical study and documentation compliance for possible funding under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Program. This program aims to accelerate local competitiveness by increasing the MSME’s productivity and access to better processing technologies.
Meanwhile,
Cane highlighted that since the province is abundant with oil palm trees, this
processing plant will provide better opportunities for Agsurnons in terms of
livelihood and employment.
“The
provincial government supports this initiative of the NGPI Multipurpose
Cooperative with the DTI, and we will give our best efforts to provide them
with the necessary equipment to start the project,” said Cane.
The NGPI Multipurpose Cooperative and DTI-Agusan del Sur expressed their gratitude to Gov. Cane and the Provincial Government for their commitment to fostering economic development and look forward to the fruitful implementation of the crude palm oil processing plant project. (JPG, PIA-Caraga with a report from DTI-Agusan del Sur)
