MORE funding sources from government and foreign funding agencies to sustain various activities and projects of Davao coconut industry cluster had been identified and disclosed by industry team chair Armando Angsinco.
"We've been getting pledges from various sources to sustain what we have started in our coconut industry cluster to help in the growth and development of this industry in the Davao Region," Angsinco said during the recent final assessment report of Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (Diccep).
Diccep is a joint project of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), supported by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Agriculture (DA), local government units, private sector and the academe.
Angsinco said he had been in contact with the US DA for possible inclusion of the industry cluster's various projects to its $5.4 million funding for the growth and development of traditional commodities such as rice, cacao and coconut.
"We're now ready and prepared to continue our industry cluster projects in the months ahead even after the end of the Jica assistance," said Angsinco, who heads the Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster Inc.
World Bank funding for the coconut industry has also been earmarked by the cluster team after Angsinco sat down in a series of meetings with top DA officials where they discussed possible soft loans, grants and investments under the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP), a government program designed to pump-prime the Philippine economy.
"There are so many things to do by our industry cluster team even after the Diccep project ends, so we're now confident we can sustain this project in Davao," Angsinco said.
The DRCIC chair also disclosed that Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon was given an extensive briefing on various projects and activities of the coconut industry cluster team and has confirmed that more funding will soon be made available by the provincial government under its Annual Investment and Development Plan.