Kidapawan City government, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and three other

national-line agencies, inked on Friday, February 10, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the
establishment of P25 million worth of agri-processing facilities.

The MOU signatories include Mayor Joseph Evangelista for Kidapawan City; Director Dionisio Albedia of
the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization; Department of Agriculture
Regional Director Milagros Casis; Dr. Cayetano Pumares of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM)
and a representative from the Philippine Fiber Development Authority.

The memorandum aims for the establishment of three huge agricultural processing projects here that
include the P7.3 million Small-Scale Processing for Rubber Production,; P13 million Abaca Fiber Handling
and Processing Facility for Farmers, and the P4.5 million Farmer Service Center for Mechanize Rice
Production System.

All project facilities are set for construction here this year.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista said the projects are expected to pour in additional opportunity and valuable
venue to local farmers that would help them to increase production and improve outputs for rice,
rubber, and abaca products.

As part of its equity, the city government would take charge of the procurement of project sites and
trainings of farmer beneficiaries for application of the new programs.

“We aim to develop a competitive, sustainable and technology-based agriculture sector to ensure
increase farmer’s income and generate employment opportunities here in our locality,” Evangelista said.

Added to this, the DA turned over some P3 million worth of farming subsidy such as 300 sacks of
certified palay seeds, 100 sacks of hybrid corn seeds, 22 cattle heads, and a P1 million multiplier facility
to the city government.
“This will be given right away to farmer associations and to individual farmers who are qualified
beneficiaries,” Evangelista said.

The activity signing and turnover rites were conducted in time for the city’s week-long celebration of its
19th foundation anniversary set to commence on February 12.

Tags: Department of Agriculture, Director Dionisio Albedia, Director Milagros Casis, Dr. Cayetano
Pumares, Kidapawan City, Kidapawan City inks MOU for P25-M projects with DA, Mayor Joseph
Evangelista, partners, Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization, Philippine
Fiber Development Authority, University of Southern Mindanao (USM)