June 19, 2025 | Midsayap, Cotabato Province
What began as a shared aspiration among local mango growers in Cotabato has finally blossomed into reality. On June 19, 2025, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) XII officially turned over a state-of-the-art mango processing facility worth Php 35.9 million to the Cotabato Mango Producers Cooperative (CMPC) in the municipality of Midsayap.
The facility, funded under the PRDP Additional Financing 2 (AF2), signals a new chapter for the province’s mango industry, which has weathered years of economic setbacks, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is both a blessing and an investment entrusted to you,” said DA-PRDP RPCO XII Project Director Roberto T. Perales during the ceremonial handover. “You have been given a blessing that is also a responsibility—a blessing worth Php 36 million, which is now in your hands to ensure its success.”
From Struggles to Solutions
The CMPC—formerly known as the Midsayap Mango Growers’ Association (MMGA)—has long represented mango farmers in Cotabato’s 1st District. The group previously operated a modest processing center in Barangay Kiwanan, producing mango puree, juice, jam, and dried mango. But the pandemic, along with operational constraints, eventually forced it to shut down.
Recognizing the potential of Cotabato’s world-class mangoes, the CMPC crafted a business proposal that earned the approval of the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in February 2024. Construction of the new facility was completed by December of the same year.
Now located on a one-hectare leasehold property in Sitio Bitoka, the new processing hub comes equipped with advanced machinery and production lines that will significantly boost CMPC’s production capacity and expand their value-added offerings—including high-quality dried mangoes, jams, puree, and juices.
Empowering a Local Industry
This project isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about empowering a cooperative that represents the hard work and dreams of Cotabato’s mango farmers. With improved facilities, CMPC is now better positioned to meet both local and international demand for processed mango products, while ensuring higher income and sustainable livelihoods for its members.
The turnover also marks a commitment to rural development that is inclusive and market-driven, a core principle of the DA-PRDP. Through public-private cooperation, initiatives like these aim to transform agricultural communities into thriving agribusiness hubs.
A Fruitful Future Ahead
The new mango processing facility stands as a testament to what can be achieved when vision meets collaboration. For CMPC and its farmer-members, it is more than a building—it is a symbol of resilience, renewed hope, and shared prosperity.
As Cotabato mangoes make their way into new markets with added value, the local growers are ready to take the next step forward—this time, with a stronger foundation and a brighter future.