JICA funds one project per cluster industry
By Mai Gevera
Davao City (19 June) — Projects for all the seven industry clusters in Region XI are now ready for implementation after getting a P1.2 million funding per project from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Regional Director for Trade and Industry and Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP) Project Director Marizon Loreto led the signing of the memorandum of agreement along with the cluster chair, lead agencies, and partners yesterday at the DTI XI Conference Room.
For the banana cluster, the approved project is the establishment of a strong foundation for the development of the banana cluster in the Davao Region. The project will come up with a comprehensive documentation of the experience in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte.
The mango cluster is set to come up with a Davao Region Mango Industry Fact Book, Synchronized Mango Production and Technical Manual, as well as technical trainings.
The private stakeholders along with the government chose to establish cluster-managed pilot coconut farms in Mati, Davao Oriental and Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Such projects must demonstrate production improvement, markets, and reduction of production costs.
An Advocacy on Responsible Mining has been approved in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental which is aimed to increase the level of awareness and acceptability of mining in those barangays.
DICCEP also approved the Establishment of Model Cooperative Seaweeds Farms in Samal and Digos for the seaweeds industry cluster.
For the tourism cluster, it is set to start its Web and Text Marketing and Tourism Databank Project. This will promote tourism by utilizing Sms and the internet as a medium of information dissemination. Also, the cluster is ready to implement the Tourism Gateway Project. This project includes the Sibulan and Bulawan Junction Plan and the Baganihan Ecotourism Center.
The wood industry has chosen the establishment of Malapapaya Nursery and Plantation Development in Barangay San Roque and Sta. Lucia, Balagunan, Sto. Tomas, Davao Del Norte. (PIA XI)
