Giving updates while assessing their counterparts’ performances in the implementation of the programs and projects under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos Region convened the municipal and provincial HVCDP coordinators and its report officers for a two-day assessment and planning workshop held in Baguio City on January 19-20, 2022.

An annual activity that aims to harmonize the HVCDPs programs and projects with the support of the local government units in the four provinces in the region, the assessment and planning workshop also led to the announcement of new programs and projects of the DA this calendar year 2023.

Ms. Maricar Bongais, Regional Focal Person of HVCDP in the region reported that Ilocos Region has a total fund allocation of P122 million to implement the HVCDPs programs and projects in the region this year.
Of this total amount, P20 million was allocated for the construction of cold storage in Pangasinan in response to its need to strengthen the onion industry in the region.

Another valuable HVCDP project to be implemented this year is the continuing provision of inputs such as fertilizers, seeds and planting materials, postharvest facilities, machinery, and equipment, as well as irrigation facilities that shall be provided to qualified beneficiaries.

Another valuable project that the HVCD Program shall be launching this year is the utilization of the P100B Coco Levy Fund in collaboration with the Coconut Development Authority which aims to provide support to coconut farmers and improve the coconut industry in the country.

A 5-year development program involving around 11 government agencies, the program provides various developmental projects that were categorized into seven sub-projects which shall all be implemented towards modernizing the coconut industry in the country.

Of the seven categories, the DA was included in the Community-Based Enterprise Development category which requires the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of existing coconut areas in the country including its area expansion through intercropping with coconut and coffee.

Mr. David John Rondal, the Project Coordinator informed the participants of the assessment and planning workshop that would-be beneficiaries of the program shall have to organize into coops and be enrolled in the National Coconut Registry System to avail of the programs and projects intended for them.

Under this program, the DA has allocated a total of 166 million in its first year to finance the programs and projects which shall be shared by the 15 regions in the country. Region I’s share is P3 million to help farmers with suitable crop areas, have available areas for intercropping and must be active members of the farmers’ cooperatives and associations.

Aside from this project, the DA-HVCDP for this year will be launching the Best Gulayan sa Barangay Program which aims to select the best vegetable garden in the barangay.

A project that aims to enhance the capacity of the general public to produce their own food using the technologies in vegetable production, it shall also promote sustainable source of vegetable seeds for household use.

Of the 3,267 barangays of Region 1, a total of 30 barangays are expected to join the Search who served as the beneficiary of the Gulayan sa Barangay Program of the HVCC.

Established in a 600 square meter area, the vegetable garden shall be provided with various interventions from the DA with the support of the local government units in the form of capacity training, various farm inputs, and other supplies and materials in gardening.

With the project duration of ten months that shall start this February, the Best Barangay Garden shall be selected and awarded in the last quarter of 2023 in time for the harvest festival slated in October or November this year.

Aside from updates of the programs and projects under the Program, the DA-HVCDP is set to conduct a data harmonization with the Philippine Statistics Authority for the fine-tuning of the production data of the various priority commodities in the region under the HVCD Program.###