Engineer Roden Guinto of the Dazzling Lite Enterprises, the project contractor, said the facility is the first-ever dome built at the highest elevation at 7,000 feet above sea level. The monolithic dome located in Sitio Agaki, will be used as packing house and cold storage of highland vegetables produced by the farmers cooperatives and associations in the community. This initiative is also aligned with the clustering and consolidation program of the DA.
The new facility, which has a total floor area of 180 square meters and height of 8.7 meters, can store 250 metric tons while its packing facility is enough to preserve the harvest of the municipality.
Costing Php20.798 million, the dome is funded under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II) with counterpart of the local government of Mankayan amounting to Php800, 000.00. The lot was donated by Donald Posayen and family who is a member of the Manpat-a Farmers Association.
At least 15 farmers’ cooperatives and associations who are mostly into good agricultural practices or GAP are the main beneficiaries of the new facility. Among their major commodities are potato, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, sweet peas, carrots, and bell pepper.
According to DA-CAR, the putting up of cold storage facility aims to maintain the freshness and quality of agri-fishery products in a bid to reduce post-harvest losses. In return, it will contribute to improving the income of farmers.
The facility is also seen as an added boost to the ongoing efforts of the agri-stakeholders in providing additional post-harvest facilities in the province, and is aligned with the clustering and consolidation program of the DA.
Odsey encouraged the Manpat-a Farmers’ Association and other farmer groups to be familiarized with the overall operations of the facility as well as the agricultural demand to maximize its benefits. He also lauded the farmers and cooperatives associations of Balili, Mankayan for their good deeds and efforts in supporting the programs of the agriculture sector.
Manpat-a Farmers’ Association President Camilo Ngaseo committed to embrace and maintain the monolithic dome for their own good. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR) (DA-CAR photos)
