The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a special order creating a technical working group (TWG) that will implement Metrobank Foundation Inc.’s (MBFI) P25- million pledge for the establishment of an onion cold storage facility in the country.
Under DA Special Order number 1403 series of 2023 signed by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. last Thursday, the creation of the TWG will guide the completion of the proposed project that was pledged by MBFI to the DA through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS).
The TWG will facilitate the preparation of a proposal for endorsement by the Office of the Secretary to the MBFI for funding, apart from providing technical inputs, advice and recommendations regarding the proposed establishment.
The TWG will also provide relevant data and facilitate sharing of information, including best practices, lessons learned and research findings related to the proposed project as well as ensure coherence in linkages of project activities wit other similar initiatives implemented by the government, non-government and private sector agencies.
It may also perform other tasks deemed essential and mutually agreed upon by the group.
Meanwhile, the TWG will be chaired by DA officer-in-charge undersecretary for operations Roger Navarro with DA-AMAS director Junibert De Sagun.
Other members of the TWG will also include heads of DA Central Office’s AMAS, Field Operations Services, High Value Crops Development Program, Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering.
Heads of DA regional field offices in Ilocos, Central Luzon and Mimaropa, particularly the divisions of agribusiness and marketing assistance, field operations and regional agricultural engineering, will also be part of the TWG.
