LANTAPAN, Bukidnon — The Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has
turned over more than PhP10.9 million worth of agricultural assistance to two farmers’
cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Lantapan, Bukidnon, to boost farm mechanization,
production, postharvest handling and market access

In a statement, the DA-10 said the assistance provided through the DA-10 Corn Program, was
formally turned over on Aug. 10 at the Lantapan People’s Gymnasium in Barangay Poblacion.
The support package is intended to strengthen the FCAs’ production, processing, trading,
marketing and consolidation activities, enabling them to provide better services to their members
and other farmers in neighboring communities, the DA-10 said in a press release.
DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Jamaica L. Docdoc led the turnover
ceremony, with the interventions coursed through Lantapan Mayor Ricky James D. Balansag
before being formally received by the beneficiary cooperatives.
The beneficiaries were the Cooperatiba sa Pobreng Mag-Uuma (CoPoMa) and the Bantuanon
ARBA Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC).
The two FCAs have a combined 325 farmer-members cultivating about 637.5 hectares of corn
and 119.5 hectares of cassava, with another 130 hectares identified for possible expansion.
CoPoMa received a combine harvester with a 400-kilogram grain tank capacity worth PhP2.48
million. The machine has a reported harvesting loss rate of only 0.52 percent and an actual field
capacity of 0.555 hectare per hour.
The cooperative also received production inputs consisting of 954 bags of hybrid yellow corn
seeds valued at PhP5.724 million and 2,863 packets of biofertilizers worth PhP286,300.
CoPoMa Chairperson Juanita C. Lumalad said the latest assistance would further strengthen the
cooperative’s operations and build on previous government interventions.
“Dako among pasalamat sa DA nga ang mga farmers karon ila na gyud gipakabanaan sa
pagtabang sa ilang panginahanglan,” Lumalad said, expressing appreciation for the continued
assistance provided by the DA and the Lantapan local government.
The cooperative had previously received government support, including a farm tractor and a
hauling truck.
For its part, Bantuanon ARBA MPC received a five-metric-ton drop-side hauling truck worth
PhP2.45 million, which Chairperson Erlinda A. Pacaldo said would help address farmers’
transportation needs, particularly in moving produce from farms to markets.
Pacaldo said the cooperative also received a farm tractor from DA-10 last year.
She assured that the cooperative would properly maintain the government-provided equipment to
ensure its long-term use in serving farmers.
“Rest assured nga kaning mga grants, amo gyud ning amumahan, among alimahan pag-ayo aron
kini mo last for many years aron maka-serbisyo sa mga mag-uuma,” Pacaldo said, adding that

the assistance would enable the cooperative to extend more services to farmers, particularly for
land preparation and marketing.
The interventions form part of DA-10’s continuing assistance to FCAs, particularly in promoting
farm mechanization, reducing production and postharvest constraints, and improving farmers’
access to markets.
The DA said the assistance is aligned with the administration’s “Para sa Masaganang Bagong
Pilipinas” vision of strengthening farmers’ capacities and promoting a more productive,
competitive and sustainable agricultural sector. (melbmadera)