BACFA MPC’s logistical capability has improved with the PhP2.57-million hauling truck granted by the DA-10, through its Corn Program.

 

SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, LANAO DEL NORTE – Eyed toward boosting the operational efficiency and income among local producers, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), through its Corn Program, officially turned over a 5-metric ton capacity hauling truck to the Barangay Calube Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (BACFA MPC).

Valued at PhP2.57-million (M), the vehicle was initially received by the Coop in May 2025 and has since aided the BACFA MPC’s logistical capability in transporting their corn harvest, as well as other farm products such as copra, whole nuts, and charcoal.

Marking August 4 as the official handover of the transportation unit at the group’s office premises, the truck is seen to further streamline the farmer-members’ conveyance of their produce to factories and anchor firms across the province and nearby cities, resulting in minimized hauling costs, faster delivery time, and improved product quality.

“Ang tumong ug tinguha karon mao ang mapasayon ang panginabuhian sa atong mga gagmay’ng mag-uuma,” said Christian Ferraren, officer-in-charge municipal agriculturist of Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

“Tungod kay gi-grant man kini sa DA [ang trak], dako gyud among pasalamat sa LGU, kay adunay dakong paglantaw nga makatabang sa among katawhan. Nasayod ta nga usahay kulang ang pondo sa LGU, busa dakong tabang gyud nga ang DA mitabang aron mapun-an ang kakulangon,”

(Our goal now is to ease the livelihood of our small farmers. Since this truck is a grant from the DA, we’re deeply thankful. The DA’s support helps fill in where LGU resources fall short.)

Formed in 2008 with just 15 members, the BACFA MPC has since grown to a 195-membered Coop managing assets worth PhP14-M and servicing four barangays – Calube, Lantawan, Capocao, and Mabuhay – as part of a corn cluster.

Arnel V. Armilla, Project Development Assistant I of the DA-10’s Corn Program, reiterated that under the agency’s leadership through Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, and representing Corn Focal Person Richan D. Lacanaria, the importance of sustainability in government-funded interventions.

“Kami sa Corn Program nanghinaot mi, ilabina nga naa si chairperson ug mga BOD, nga himoan ninyo at least og kasabutan o board resolution nga ang kitaon sa hauling truck, maggahin mo og gamay nga porsiyento para sa iyang repair and maintenance, kay kami pod sa DA aduna pod mi’y monitoring team, isa pod ni ka pamaagi nga basehan nga puhon kung duna mo’y pangayuon, at least makita namo nga gi atiman ninyo ang gihatag sa gobyerno,” he pointed out.

(We hope the Coop will pass a board resolution to allocate a portion of the truck’s income for repairs and maintenance. This helps ensure sustainability, which also serves as a basis for future requests for assistance.)

On behalf of the Coop, BACFA MPC Manager Edna A. Yarong lauded the support as a game-changer in their operations, at the same time echoed the said responsibility, underscoring that it comes along with the government’s grant.

“Agreed na namo [farmer’s group] nga every time na mogamit ta sa sakyanan, dili buot pasabot nga hinatag na siya, atoang pina tamas-tamasan nga dili mohatag og gamay nga counterpart tungod kay sa gobyerno gikan. Sila gyud mismo [niingon nga] kinahanglan allocate ta og fund for sustainability ni ana, dili mana mohangtod ang atoang sakyanan kay moabot panahon nga murag mo bag down siya, pero at least taas-taas ang iyang service,” she remarked.

(We [the farmer’s group] agreed that using the vehicle doesn’t mean we neglect our obligations in contributing even a small counterpart for its upkeep, just because it came from the government. They themselves said that we really need to allocate funds for its sustainability to prolong its service life.)

She also recounted the Coop’s challenges with delays, high costs, and inconvenience in handling their agricultural products due to limited access to transportation but said these are gradually easing with the arrival of the truck.

This initiative is aligned with the national government’s directive under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas, which aims to transform agriculture as a profitable and resilient sector. Key priorities include developing efficient logistics systems for input and production output, improving and expanding market access, as well as agricultural areas for increased production.# (JLO)