Last 16-17 July 2026, IFAD organized a Project Demonstration Visit to RAPID Growth Project sites in the Province of Bukidnon in Region 10 to showcase the gains that emerged from the implementation of the project.
Last 16-17 July 2026, IFAD organized a Project Demonstration Visit to RAPID Growth Project sites in the Province of Bukidnon in Region 10 to showcase the gains that emerged from the implementation of the project.
*The delegation poses for a photo opportunity after a productive discussion in the Cinchona Forest Reserve, Lantapan, Bukidnon.
Bukidnon, Philippines—Following the RAPID Growth Project's progress in improving beneficiaries' livelihoods, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) organized a Project Demonstration Visit that showcased tangible progress in Bukidnon's mountain-foot municipalities, demonstrating the project's positive impact.
The visit brought Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Undersecretary Joseph Capuno, Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Joven Balbosa, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan to the foothill municipalities of Lantapan and Pangantucan in Bukidnon Province.
Led by IFAD Country Director Umit Mansiz, the delegation visited the farm sites and facilities of Paglambu LandCare Kaatuan Cluster (PLKC) in Lantapan and Bayanihan Millennium Multipurpose Cooperative (BMMPC) in Pangantucan, and witnessed firsthand how the project’s Public-Private-Producer Partnership through its Hub-and-Spoke working models were implemented in the field.
By adopting RAPID Growth Project interventions and forging partnerships with Linear Coffee and Nestlé Philippines, both cooperatives achieved higher production and increased incomes, highlighting the project's tangible contributions to inclusive rural development.
During the visit, the delegation also inspected newly rehabilitated farm-to-market infrastructure developed through the partnership between the DTI RAPID Growth Project and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the municipalities of Lantapan and Pangantucan. The improved infrastructure has significantly reduced farmers' travel time and transportation effort in bringing their produce to market, resulting in better market access and increased economic opportunities.
With the successful visit, the RAPID Growth Project hopes that the lessons and best practices gained from its implementation will inform future development initiatives and contribute to sustainable rural development—not only in Mindanao but across the Philippines.
