Cooperative empowers people through abaca farming
BOAC, MARINDUQUE—Being one of the most flexible and best adaptors under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), the Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa Multi-Purpose Cooperative got the first place for the 2014 Best Technopreneur under the Non-Core Category and took home P30, 000.
DOST MIMAROPA’s Non-Core Category for Best Technopreneur acknowledges micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises that improved their business productivity, profitability, employment, and over-all contribution to the regional economy through science and technology. The award targets MSMEs in the region assisted through the Regional Grants-In-Aid (GIA) funds and other DOST assistance programs.
According to Pacifico Mabato, Head of the Cooperative, they started their cooperative in 2006 when the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) introduced abaca farming in Boac, Marinduque. They started with just 35 members but after two weeks they became 70. Now they already have 735 members.
Once abaca farming became stable in the area, DAR came back to assist them in the processing of abacas. It was 2007 when the Cooperative came up with the livelihood project of utilizing abaca fibers.
Read the full story of Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa Multi-Purpose Cooperative at LoQal.ph: Cooperative empowers people through abaca farming
