Lanao cluster to develop 17,500 has for various commodities

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Philippines — The Lanao del Norte Convergence Agro-Enterprise Cluster (LCAEC) is projected to develop at least 17,500 hectares of land for various commodities.

It is also expected to generate about 17,500 jobs through the implementation of the local convergence agro-enterprise cluster plan in nine municipalities.

This was the message of Gov. Kahlid Dimaporo as announced by provincial administrator Joselito Quibranza during the launching of the project, here at the Mindanao Civic Center.

In his message read by the administrator, the governor said “the convergence of the three rural development agencies, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DA-DAR-DENR) will serve as the reckoning point of translating the vision of the province to come into reality.”

Included in the convergence are the municipalities of Sapad, Pantar, Tagoloan, Baloi, Matungao, Linamon under Royale Cluster 1 and Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND), Sapad, Kapatagan and Nunungan under Mt. Inayawan-Illana Bay Cluster 2.

The estimated total investment is P1.74 billion and an income of P563.95 million with a return on investment (ROI) of 48 percent and payback period of two years.

The per capita income is estimated at P32,226 which is almost 50 percent higher than the provincial average per capita income of P15,939 which was P18,073 in 2009, according to National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).

Quibranza added, for 2011, the DA-DAR-DENR is committed to mobilize the resources requirements for the implementation of the LNCAE Cluster with a total investment requirement amounting to P1.18 billion for 2011 to 2016 involving 12 commodity clusters.

The investment plan includes various support from these agencies such as production support, infrastructure, post-harvest facilities and processing, capability building, and marketing information, Quibranza said.