What was once a vision for local mango growers in Cotabato is now a fully realized facility, as
the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development (DA-PRDP) Regional
Project Coordination Office (RPCO) XII formally handed over a mango processing facility,
valued at Php 35,995,223.46, to the Cotabato Mango Producers Cooperative (CMPC)
earlier today, June 19, 2025, in the municipality of Midsayap, Cotabato Province.
Funded under the PRDP Additional Financing 2 (AF2), the newly established facility is poised
to breathe new life into Cotabato’s mango processing industry, which had faced significant
challenges in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The project’s business plan
secured approval from the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in February 2024 and
with construction reaching completion by December of the same year.
“The way I see it, this new facility stands as a symbol of resilience, progress, and hope for our
mango farmers,” said DA-PRDP RPCO XII Project Director Roberto T. Perales during the
turnover ceremony. “From just 30 members, ngayon ay mahigit 80 na sila. Ito ang patunay na
kapag sama-sama at nagkakaisa tayo, malayo ang mararating natin.”
The CMPC, formerly Midsayap Mango Growers’ Association (MMGA), sources its mangoes
primarily from the 1st District of Cotabato and previously produced mango puree, juice, jam,
and dried mango at a facility in Kiwanan, which recently ceased operations due to similar
challenges.
Photo 1. Project Director Perales with key stakeholders during a photo opportunity
Photo 2. Project Director Perales delivering a speech during the turnover ceremony
Now equipped with a new leasehold agreement on a one-hectare land in Bitoka, CMPC is set
to produce high-quality dried mangoes, jams, puree, and juices. This facility is expected to
increase the cooperative’s production capacity, enhance value-adding, and open wider
markets for Cotabato’s world-class mangoes.