P1M grant given to coffee producer group in Kalinga

Balbalan, Kalinga – The 22-members of the Maling Farmers Savings and Livelihood Association (MAFASLA) were the recent recipient of the Shared Service Facility (SSF) Program of the national government after they were granted a P955,000 project for their ground coffee processing business.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) awarded the SSF on Monday, August 2, 2021, to the farmers’ association in Buaya, Balbalan along with a P50, 000 working capital, with sticker labels and packaging.

As support to their Ground Coffee Processing project, the project is also a part of the Enhancement Support Two (INREMP-LES 2) Program, a joint project of the DTI and DENR agencies with an intent of protecting and preserving the Chico River along the province of Kalinga through the introduction of sustainable livelihood to the communities within its covered areas.

Provincial Director Renie Ramos of DTI-Kalinga said the SSF was designed to improve and mechanize the production of the organization’s ground coffee to make it more competitive in the commercial market.

The organization, he said, has been supplying coffee to different clients in the province, and with the provision of the SSF, more production is expected.

“So ammo daytoy coffee industry, nagpintas daytoy ta unlimited market ket naibaga yu nga adu ti opportunity daytoy coffee ta adu ti orders, nakita yu ti advantage or good prospect of the coffee industry ditoy probinsya tayo,” the provincial director said.

“That speaks for itself a kunada nga indeed daytoy coffee processing project a napili yu ket mangted ti naan anay a mangnaynayon ti pagsapulen dagitoy taga Maling,” Ramos added.

Along with the grant, various seminars, workshops, and trainings to include Provincial-level Technical Working Group (PTWG) meetings, consultation meetings, study tour, best game, 20 other related seminars, product development through Stickers labels and packaging, and that products are tested by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were given.

Additionally, a P1.3 million worth one-storey building shall later be awarded to the organization. A notice to proceed is now being processed, and when approved, the construction shall commence.

History of MAFASLA

The group, formerly a Savings and Loan organization, was formed in 2012 with only 16 members, in which every month, each member contributes P20 pesos to the association.

“Every month nga agtintinag kami ti 20 pesos ag-collect ti kwarta then buluden da pero nung pumasok ang INREMP mga 2017 or 2018, apan mi inpa-register, sinukatan mi ti nagan isunga tatta 22 kami,” a member revealed.

It was in the first year of implementation of the program that the association was chosen as one of the INREMP beneficiaries in which they have undergone profiling and attended consultation meetings to document and propose their livelihood.

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