PRDP Mindanao

Brewing Excellence from Amai Manabilang!

The DA-PRDP Mindanao Cluster proudly congratulates the coffee farmers of St. Mary of Downtown Farmers Organization, Inc. (SMDFOI) and the community of Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur for their outstanding achievement at the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) 2026.

🌟 Samuel Ochea Jr. – 3rd Place, Arabica Category
🌟 Rule Rabaca – 8th Place, Arabica Category

This double recognition showcases the growing potential of Lanao del Sur’s coffee industry and reflects the dedication, skill, and perseverance of smallholder coffee farmers who continue to produce quality beans that can compete on the national stage.

As a DA-PRDP-supported proponent group under the Green Coffee Beans Consolidation, Processing, and Marketing Enterprise, SMDFOI continues to demonstrate how investments in rural enterprises can translate into improved livelihoods, stronger farmer organizations, and nationally recognized products.

We also extend our congratulations to the Local Government Unit of Amai Manabilang, MTIT Lanao del Sur, Barangay Pagunayan, and all partners whose unwavering support helped make this achievement possible.

Your success is an inspiration to coffee-growing communities across Mindanao. May this milestone open even more opportunities for the farmers and families behind every cup.

𝐈-𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠| The I-BUILD component of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) successfully concluded its four-day Coordination Meeting, bringing together representatives from the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), Project Support Offices (PSOs), and Regional Project Coordination Offices (RPCOs) to strengthen collaboration and align implementation strategies for the PRDP Scale-Up.

The activity served as an important platform for I-BUILD teams across the country to assess the status of ongoing and pipeline subprojects, share experiences, and identify practical solutions to implementation challenges. Through a series of workshops, technical sessions, and coordination meetings, participants were able to harmonize approaches and reinforce their commitment to delivering quality rural infrastructure investments on schedule.

A key outcome of the meeting was the strengthened coordination among implementing units, particularly in addressing compliance requirements and resolving issues that affect subproject processing and implementation. Participants also discussed measures to improve monitoring and reporting systems to ensure that project accomplishments are accurately documented and tracked.

As the PRDP Scale-Up continues to advance rural infrastructure development nationwide, the coordination meeting underscored the importance of proactive planning, timely action, and close collaboration among project stakeholders. These efforts are expected to contribute to the faster processing and implementation of subprojects that will improve farm productivity, market access, and the delivery of essential services in rural communities.

The activity concluded with a renewed commitment from the I-BUILD teams to sustain momentum, strengthen accountability, and work collectively toward achieving the project’s development objectives. (Joy M. Montecalvo, PSO Mindanao)

Couple Goals | In Bulawan, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, this husband-and-wife pair works side by side to turn coco coir twine into rugs, pots, and other handmade crafts.

Made from biodegradable and organic coconut fiber, coco coir products bring an earth-friendly touch to homes while creating livelihood opportunities for rural families.

Through the Integrated Coco Coir Processing and Marketing Enterprise, the Bulawan Coconut Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (BUCOFAC), a cluster member and recipient of the DA-PRDP enterprise subproject, is helping transform coconut husks once considered waste into value-added products with market potential.

For couples and families in the community, coco coir production has become more than a source of income. It is shared work, shared skill, and shared hope woven by hand. (Photo and text by Joseph John Palarca | PSO Mindanao)

PRDP RPCO Nueve

| DA-PRDP 10, in collaboration with PSO Mindanao, conducted procurement training and workshops for LGUs implementing PRDP-funded subprojects on May 26–29 and June 1–4, 2026. The activity strengthened LGU readiness on World Bank Procurement Regulations, the PRDP Procurement Module, the New Government Procurement Act, and the preparation of Philippine Bidding Documents to support the efficient implementation of farm-to-market road subprojects in Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental.

Link in the comments.

(via PRDP 10)

| PRDP-supported coffee farmer Mario Joey Tacan of Region XII earned national recognition after his specialty Robusta coffee scored 85.96 and placed among the Top 10 entries in its category during the 2026 Southeast Asia Green Coffee Competition: Philippine National Round held from May 29–31 in Bukidnon.

Link in the comments.

(via Tikad - PRDP RPCO XII)

| Saint Mary of Downtown Farmers Organization Inc., a PRDP RPCO-BARMM proponent group, participated in coffee forums and learning sessions held in Valencia City, Bukidnon during the Bukidnon Coffee Festival and the Southeast Asia Green Coffee Competition Philippine National Round. Represented by its president Merry Saint Ganih and farm worker Artemio Campus, the group joined discussions on coffee production, post-harvest processing, grading, market development, and export opportunities to help improve the quality and competitiveness of their coffee products.

Link in the comments.

(via PRDP - BARMM)

| The PRDP Scale-Up Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in Caraga has approved the proposed ₱106-million Bayan–San Isidro Farm-to-Market Road in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur during its deliberation on June 4 in Butuan City. The 3.58-kilometer road, the first PRDP Scale-Up subproject to be funded in Marihatag, aims to improve farmers’ access to production areas and markets, support the municipality’s cacao industry, and benefit around 4,879 individuals.

Full story in the link the comments.

(via Department of Agriculture - Caraga)

| PRDP RPCO XI, through its I-REAP Component, gathered officers, managers, and emerging youth leaders from farmer cooperatives and associations for a three-day Succession Planning Training on June 2–4, 2026 in Digos City, strengthening leadership continuity and enterprise sustainability among PRDP-supported groups. The training emphasized the need to prepare the next generation of FCA leaders by identifying critical roles, sharing responsibilities, developing internal talent, and promoting competency-based leadership to ensure that cooperative enterprises continue to operate and grow even as leaders change over time.

Full story in the link in the comments.

(via Agri Info Davao)

𝐏𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐋𝐆𝐔 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐑𝐃𝐏 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞-𝐔𝐩 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬|

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Project Support Office (PSO) Mindanao convened a Joint Technical Assistance Meeting with the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Cotabato to expedite the processing of three proposed infrastructure subprojects under the PRDP Scale-Up.

The activity brought together technical teams from PSO Mindanao, RPCO XII, and the PLGU of Cotabato to address compliance requirements and provide direct technical guidance necessary for the completion of documentary and technical submissions.

The meeting was conducted in response to the agreements reached during the recent I-BUILD Coordination Meeting with the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), which emphasized the need to fast-track the processing of eligible subprojects. Participants were also informed that the available funding allocation for PRDP Scale-Up proposals is nearing depletion, making timely compliance and submission of requirements crucial as subproject approvals are being processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Discussions focused on the Province of Cotabato’s proposed subprojects, namely the Concreting of Sitio Campo, Barangay Malapag-Macabenban Farm-to-Market Road in Carmen, Cotabato; the Concreting of Napanlahan-Dallag Farm-to-Market Road in Arakan, Cotabato; and the Construction of the Arakan Potable Water System Level II.

Through the joint technical assistance meeting, the project teams were able to identify and address key requirements needed to facilitate the timely completion and submission of compliance documents, ensuring that the proposed subprojects remain on track for evaluation and funding consideration under the PRDP Scale-Up.

The initiative underscores PRDP’s continuing commitment to assisting local government units in advancing priority rural infrastructure investments that improve agricultural productivity, market accessibility, and access to basic services in rural communities. (Joy M. Montecalvo, PSO Mindanao)