The Mindanawan Coco Sugar Corporation (MCS) and its product, coco sugar branded as “Sweet Peace”, were launched on July 21, 2010 at Brgy. Palian, Tupi, South Cotabato. The officers and members of the corporation were combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front turned to be an entrepreneur. On the date of launching, almost half a ton of coco sugar were produced. Based from the projection of Engr. Misuari "Jake" Abdullah who provided technical assistance to the coco-sugar project representing the ACT for Peace Programme, the plant have the capacity of 10 tons/month coco-sugar production.
The MCS was the business sustainability group of the South Central Mindanao Mindanao Provincial Peace and Development Advocates League Coalition, Inc. (PPDALCI). It was comprised of 7 Peace and Development Advocates League (PDAL) like South Cotabato PDAL, Cotabato PDAL, Katiakap (GenSan PDAL), PDAL Davao Del Sur, Sultan Kudarat PDAL, and Sultan Kudarat Coastal PDA Alliance. All PDAL presidents are Maguindanaon MNLF Combatant turned entrepreneurs.
The Coco-sugar project was a support from GoP-UN ACT for Peace Programme fund who allocated Php4,912,000.00 for the Project.
DTI-South Cotabato lead the Project Advisory Group (PAG) whose member agencies are DOLE 12, TESDA 12, DTI Sarangani, DOST 12, PCA 12, South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce, and Kapayapaan Kapatid Council (KKC).
PCA 12 launched their KAANIB project on October 9, 2010 in Tupi, South Cotabato with Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Edilberto de Luna as the representative of DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala. One of the banner programs of the Department, KAANIB aims to adopt income-generating interventions to reduce poverty, ensure the availability of food and increase farmers’ incomes to ascertain sustainable livelihood for farming communities. Among the strategies to be employed are: 1) develop the Community-Based Organization’s (CBO) capacity as village-level entrepreneurs and not mere suppliers of raw materials; 2) transfer village-level processing technologies to the communities that will empower resource-poor farmers and the disadvantage women in the coconut-growing communities; and 3) provide technical support and marketing assistance to those implementing the income-generating interventions which include the following: a)Establishment of community-managed nurseries and planting of coconut seedlings; Intercropping with high-value crops and cash crops; Livestock integration as additional income source; and Production and marketing of village-level high-value products and by-products.
Recently DTI XII-SC RuMEPP implemented the Enhanced-Coco-Sugar Industry Development (e-Coco SID) Project of Php890,000.00 with Additional Php450,000.00 as Business Development Support to the MSC coco-sugar project.
500kg of coco-sugar project was shipped by the MSC with the facilitation of KKC and the PCA-12.
This project is an indication that peace, harmony, and development in Mindanao can be achieved though equitable participation. MSC are all Maguindanaon Muslims, workers are Christians, many coco-sugar workers in the PDCs are Lumad, KKC head Father Joy Pelino is a Catholic Priest that actively supporting MSC, and NGAs heads are Christians.
Should you wish to support this peace initiative, please buy or invite others to visit coco-sugar plant site in Palian, Tupi, south Cotabato, and enjoy the sweet peace of coco-sugar.
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