MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Filinvest subsidiary FDC Misamis Power Corporation (FDC Misamis) successfully conducted the three-day Agri-Enterprise Management Training under Project AYOS: Accelerating Youth and Farmers Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture. This event, held from July 23 to 25, 2024, at the FDC Misamis’ project site office in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, marks a vital step towards enhancing the skills and productivity of local farmers and fisherfolk from host communities.
Four farmer groups from the Municipalities of Tagoloan and Villanueva, namely Tagoloan Livelihood Association (TALA), Association of Rosario Integrated Farmers Inc. (ARIF), Villanueva Fisherfolks Fishermen Cooperative (VFFC), and Villanueva Corn Cassava Farmers Association (VCCFA) participated in the training.
The Program, designed in collaboration with the Municipal Agricultural Offices (MAO) of both municipalities, provided participants with essential knowledge of sustainable farming techniques, business planning tools, and strategic marketing.
Pablo E. Dagoc, President of ARIF, praised the training’s effectiveness and said, “The Project AYOS Agri-Enterprise Management Training is nothing like the other training I’ve attended. The resource person effectively imparts the relevant knowledge. We identified the gaps in financial and organizational management and devised an action plan to address the issues.”
Virgilio Durog, Chairman of VCCFA, also added, “I am very grateful to FDC Misamis for this workshop, which is inclusive and interactive. This training is a big help to our growing organization, and we look forward to sharing the information we learned here with our members at our upcoming monthly meeting.”
Project AYOS, now in its third year, continues to focus on capacity building and livelihood improvement for smallholder farmers and fisherfolk in FDC Misamis’ host barangays.
The Program aims not only to boost the income and productivity of the participants but also to attract and encourage youth engagement in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Resource person Gianne Manzano, an Enterprise Development and Marketing Specialist of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, said, “The Project shows promise of translating its outputs and outcomes into meaning and sustainable impact to the organization and community. As a resource person for the conduct of the Agri-Enterprise Management Training for the first two batches, I could say that FDC Misamis’ intention of helping the community is genuine and will show results afterward. Their perspective of ensuring youth involvement and sustainability principles will bring a holistic approach and results.”
This year’s initiative is part of a broader commitment by FDC Misamis to foster inclusive growth and development in its host communities.
The ongoing support includes providing market linkages through establishing trading posts and market days, facilitating fresh produce sourcing for FDC Misamis concessionaires, and continuous post-training assistance in collaboration with MAO-LGUs.
Project AYOS Year 3 targets to provide at least four pilot farmer group beneficiaries with income opportunities and equipment grants to further enhance their productivity.
The Program’s long-term goal is to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders and contribute to the sector’s sustainability through education and knowledge sharing.
FDC Misamis owns and operates the Filinvest Group’s flagship power project, the 405-megawatt baseload power plant located within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate.
The facility has significantly helped the stability of the Mindanao grid since its commercial operations in 2016. Aside from providing reliable and cost-effective power to consumers in Visayas and Mindanao, FDC Misamis is dedicated to implementing programs that sustain inclusive growth and development in the communities where it operates.
Through initiatives like Project AYOS, FDC Misamis aims to address livelihood insecurity and promote sustainable agricultural practices. (PR)
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