DTI -12 Recognizes Outstanding OTOP SME, LGU and Partner

By Nelly Nita N. Dillera

Region 12 Outstanding OTOP Entrepreneur

    SKMFMC whose brand for its product is PQ Muscovado was selected from among the five (5) provincial nominees in the region on the basis of the following criteria. The winner received a trophy and P30,000 gift check and will be the region’s bet for the national OTOP awards.

-    its contribution to OTOP goals of generating investments, sales and employment; A total of 1,935 jobs were already generated in farms and mills, warehouse and migrant workers. From a total plantation size of 530 in 2006, the area planted with sugarcane in 2009 has reached 1,700.

-    its participation in OTOP activities like trade fairs and exhibits, training, product quality and  improvement; PQ’s participation in local, national and international fairs resulted in market linkage with institutional buyers from North Korea, Japan, middle east countries, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan de Oro, Manila. Buyers range from individual buyers, malls, resorts, restaurants, organic products to healthy food buyers.

PQ Muscovado is currently used in the newly developed “Muzkafe” and launched in the market in May 2009.

-    Support of the entrepreneur to other industry players in the locality; SKMFMC as a Magsasakang Siyentista for Science and Technology Based Farm on Organic Muscovado has been tapped by the University of Southern Mindanao to the transfer of science-based knowledge to his co-farmers not only in Sultan Kudarat but other provinces as well ; assisted the establishment of plantation and mill in the nearby municipality of Paglat in Maguindanao.

Moreover, SKMFMC Chairperson Cornelio Castaneda is the current chair of the Muscovado industry cluster of region 12 and the Chair of the Muscovado Sugar Industry Council of the Philippines; President of the Global Organic & Wellness Corporation based in Quezon City; a member of the Trade Negotiation Working Committee of the Universal Access to Competitiveness and Trade;  

-    Compliance to government laws and regulations like payment of tax, standards registration/application like BFAD, GMP, Halal; labor laws and credit standing.

-    Various banks and institutions have been offering financial windows and grants to rehabilitate existing mills, enhance muscovado processing, trading capital, equipment for sachet making and working capital.

SKMFMC has also been identified as an industrial tourism in the province. Potential investors, existing muscovado producers, students and prospective buyers have visited the place to learn and see for themselves how sugarcane is transformed in to muscovado.  Local and foreign visitors have been to the place.

Region 12 Outstanding OTOP Implementer

   

This is under the leadership of Ma. Theresa Pacheco who received a trophy and gift check worth P20,000.00