01 October 2025 | News by PISD
Victoria, Oriental Mindoro – A brighter future awaits local farmers and producers as the United Producers of Oriental Mindoro (UP OrMin) was officially formed on September 23, 2025, at the Provincial Agricultural Center (PAC), Merit, Victoria. This milestone marks a new chapter of unity, collaboration, and innovation for the province’s agriculture sector.
UP OrMin brings together cooperatives, associations, and individual producers under one collective alliance. Its mission is clear: to strengthen the voice of producers, foster innovation in product development, and open greater access to markets and opportunities. By working as one, producers can now better share resources, exchange knowledge, and support one another in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth.
The establishment of UP OrMin goes hand in hand with the support of the Provincial Agricultural Center (PAC), a modern facility inaugurated in 2024 through the Climate Resilient and Inclusive Green Growth (CRGG) program in partnership with KOICA, GGGI, CCC, DTI, and PGOM. PAC is equipped with FDA-compliant facilities and offers incubation services, tolling and processing facilities, and aggregation systems that connect farmers to wider markets, including digital platforms. Currently, these services are free of charge upon proper request — a significant boost for small-scale farmers and agripreneurs.
The organization elected its first 15-member Board of Trustees, with April Fernandez (MIDACO) as President, Gary Manalo (KASAGPI) as Vice President, Baby Jean Ruga (SAMASABALATASAN Co.) as Secretary, Mellany Hardin (MAPAGCO) as Treasurer, and Virginia Dela Cruz (VCDC) as Auditor. This diverse leadership team represents the strength and inclusivity of UP OrMin.
With UP OrMin uniting local producers and PAC providing essential support, Oriental Mindoro’s agriculture sector is poised for bigger opportunities and stronger collaborations. Together, they embody the spirit of resilience and innovation – proving that when producers stand as one, growth and success naturally follow.