IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – The three-year Commercial Partnership Agreement (CPA) among the GRANEX Manufacturing Corporation, four (4) farmer organizations/cooperatives from Zamboanga del Sur, five (5) farmer organizations/cooperatives from Zamboanga Sibugay, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Region 9 has just been signed. This CPA was made possible through the efforts of DTI-Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay under the Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The signing ceremony which was held in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay was attended by DTI-Region 9 Regional Director (RD) Ceferino J. Rubio, duly represented by Assistant RD Al-Zamir I. Lipae, DTI Provincial Directors (PD) Marlon A. Alabata of Zamboanga Sibugay, PD Flora G. Miraflor of Zamboanga del Sur, Industry Development Division Chief Rosanna E. Garcia, RAPID Growth Project Regional Coordination Unit led by its regional coordinator, Michael Santos, and the RAPID Growth Project National Project Coordination Office led by its project director and CARAGA RD, Edwin O. Banquerigo. The GRANEX was represented by Mr. Alexander Martos who virtually joined the signing along with the three other vice presidents. The farmer organizations were also represented by Mr. Ramil Cimafranca, Chairperson of the Gubang Farmers Beneficiaries Cooperative (GUBARFECO), and Ms. Pacita Tenerifie, Manager of the Batu Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO).
The core provisions of the agreement place GRANEX responsible for the provision of technical assistance in the production and postharvest processes based on its production protocol to ensure compliance with the market/buyer’s quality requirements. On the other hand, farmers organizations agree to supply at least 70% of their production output to GRANEX while DTI-Region 9 provides the necessary value-chain based development interventions to support the realization of this partnership agreement, i.e. technical training/consultancy, product and market development, institutional strengthening and financing facilitation, among others.
In his inspirational message, RD Ceferino J. Rubio of DTI-Region 9 who was represented by Assistant RD Al-Zamir I. Lipae emphasized the objectives of the agreement which are to enhance the productivity and improve the quality of production output of small-scale farmer holders; ensure a sustainable market for the farmers through strong backward linkages and strengthen the development of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) particularly in the rural areas with the strong raw materials supply base.
Lipae said, “One of the core objectives of this agreement is to ensure a sustainable market for the farmers through strong backward linkages; ito yung pinakamagandang bahagi ng inyong commercial partnership agreement kasi walang iwanan sa ere, at least for the next three years, at kung nasusunod naman ng dalawang parties ang mga kasunduan, the CPA will be subject for renewal for another three years.”
Mr. Akexander Martos, president of the GRANEX Manufacturing Corporation, also welcomed the partnership with the Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay as they look forward to being able to help the coconut farmers sustain their livelihood in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. GRANEX is one of the four substantially owned companies under the Coconut Industry Fund Oil Mills Group (CIIF OMG) engaged in the business of coconut oil milling and refining. They are the producer of Minola Oil. GRANEX, which is currently located in Iligan City is also one of the biggest coconut oil mills in the world. To date, it has its buying station in Pagadian City.
The agreement is expected to benefit 2,711 Zamboanga del Sur coconut farmers with 3,520 hectares of coconut plantation or a monthly production of around 9 tons. These consist of 2,200 Farmers of Bulawan Agrarian Reform Cooperative, 275 Farmers of Gubang Farmers Beneficiaries Cooperative, 50 Farmers of Lumbog Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Farmers Cooperative, 186 Farmers of Pangalaran Environment and Livelihood Association Incorporated. Moreover, 2,903 Zamboanga Sibugay coconut farmers with 2,656 hectares of coconut plantation or a monthly production of around 100 tons including 627 Farmers of Batu Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, 450 Farmers of Del Monte Coconut Farmers Credit Cooperative, 1,075 Farmers of Alicia Neighborhood Multipurpose Cooperative, 400 Farmers of Olutanga Island Multipurpose Cooperative, And 351 Farmers of Nanan Multipurpose Cooperative. ♦
Date of Release: 10 May 2021