The Aliwes Irrigators Association, Inc. in Bontoc, Mountain Province can now proceed with the procurement process for their start-up enterprise subproject on coffee consolidation, processing and marketing, after receiving the green light from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).
Through the DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR (RPCO-CAR), the first no objection letter was issued on Dec. 29, 2022 allowing the Aliwes Irrigators Association, the proponent group of the enterprise subproject, to proceed with the procurement process.
The proponent group’s start-up enterprise involves the establishment of a coffee processing center, working capital, a hauling vehicle, and coffee processing machineries and supplies.
Through the enterprise, the Aliwes Irrigators Association will engage in the consolidation, trading, and marketing of quality arabica coffee green beans following the Philippine National Standards.
It aims to increase the average net income of individual coffee farmer-beneficiary with an average of at least 50.80 percent annual increase within its 10 years of operation.
The proponent group shelled out P2.25 million (cash and in-kind) counterpart of the total P11.12M project cost.
The proponent group will undertake community participation-community force account as the mode of procurement wherein they will handle the purchasing of raw materials, equipment, and other goods as specified in their business plan except for the civil works.
“The Bids and Awards Ccommittee of the DA-CAR will be handling the bidding process for the construction of the proponent group’s coffee processing center,” said RPCO-CAR Procurement Officer, Engr. Roiston Z. Carame.
The RPCO-CAR will be conducting an orientation this month to capacitate and prepare the proponent group with the procurement process. – Elvy T. Estacio
