Farmers’ org in Surigao Sur receives P2.4-M worth of E-Kadiwa grant
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — In line with the national government’s drive to achieve food security and promote inclusive agricultural growth under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (DA-AMAD), turned over a P2.4 million Enhanced Kadiwa (E-Kadiwa) grant to the Magroyong Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (MAFAMUCO) of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Regional Executive Director Arlan M. Mangelen of DA Caraga handed over the check to MAFAMUCO Chairperson Joeirene M. Campomanes in a ceremonial turnover held on May 2 at the DA Caraga Regional Office in Butuan City.
According to Campomanes, the financial grant will be used to procure a delivery vehicle, post-harvest equipment, and to serve as working capital for the cooperative’s palay business operations.
“This grant is a significant boost as we prepare to launch centralized trading and farmer-run store outlets,” said Campomanes. “It also supports our goal to partner with key retailers like NCCC Supermarket for a backload scheme, where farm produce from San Miguel can reach larger markets, such as Davao City.”
San Miguel, classified as a class A municipality and dubbed the “Rice Granary of Surigao del Sur,” is also a pioneer in Manchuria soybeans production, having sustained this high-value crop for over 50 years.
Campomanes emphasized that with 99 percent of the soybeans used in the Philippines being imported, there is a massive opportunity to reinvigorate local production.
Through the full support of the local government of San Miguel, MAFAMUCO conceptualized the Integrated Grains Processing Center (IGPC), a visionary initiative aimed at transforming San Miguel’s agricultural landscape. The P203 million project was recently recognized as one of the three priority projects in the Caraga Region in 2024, and included in the 30 priority projects nationwide by the Regional Development Council, through the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
The IGPC consists of four major components:
Rice Processing System 2 – Currently being set up and targeted to be operational by 2025 (P93 million)
Soybean Processing Facility – Set for partial implementation by 2025
Corn and Feedmill Project – Undergoing funding process
Food Terminal – To be established in partnership with the Kadiwa program, serving as the marketing and logistics arm.
Campomanes explained that the IGPC is not just a facility, but a farmer-centric ecosystem paradigm aimed at completing the agricultural supply and value chain, from production to market.
“The concept is to consolidate and centralize all farmers in San Miguel through clustering. This empowers them to become agri-preneurs, stabilizes farm gate prices, and ultimately reduces food costs for consumers,” Campomanes shared. “Through the cooperative model, farmers will not only produce food, they will own the business.”
The initial P2.4 million from the E-Kadiwa Enhancement Program provides the seed support to operationalize these ambitions, beginning with establishing small store outlets under the farmers marketplace branding across various municipalities in Surigao del Sur.
The E-Kadiwa Program, a flagship initiative of the Department of Agriculture under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration, supports farmers’ cooperatives and associations by enhancing market access and strengthening food distribution systems. Qualified beneficiaries can access grants for post-harvest facilities, processing equipment, logistics, and the establishment of Kadiwa retail outlets, ensuring that farm-fresh products reach consumers at affordable prices.
With initiatives like this, the national government affirms its commitment to sustainable development, inclusive growth, and the empowerment of grassroots communities, making Bagong Pilipinas a reality for every Filipino farmer. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)