AGUSAN DEL NORTE — In the quiet barangay of Balangbalang in Remedios T. Romualdez, a group of 30 farmers has quietly transformed their collective effort into something greater than the sum of its parts. What began as a farmers' organization under the Department of Agriculture's Special Area for Agricultural Development Phase II Program in 2023 has grown into a formally registered cooperative engaged in banana, rice, vegetables, and egg production. At the helm of this transformation is Jeneveb A. Magallanes, the cooperative's secretary, whose journey with BABAFAC reflects a shared vision of turning local harvests into lasting livelihoods.
From Organization to Enterprise
BABAFAC, or the Balangbalang Banana Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, was formally registered with the Cooperative Development Authority in 2024, marking its transition from a community-based organization into a legitimate enterprise. Among its flagship offerings is BABAFAC Banana Chips, a product that transforms locally grown bananas into a convenient, marketable snack that carries the flavors of the farmers' harvest to consumers' tables. The cooperative's identity as a farmer-owned and community-based enterprise is central to its mission—connecting agricultural production with livelihood improvement while ensuring that the value created from their crops remains within the community that nurtures them.
Mentorship That Sharpened the Vision
The turning point for BABAFAC came through the Kapatid Mentor ME Program, which gave Magallanes and the cooperative's leadership a deeper understanding of business management, operations, marketing, and financial management. The mentorship illuminated areas for improvement that the cooperative had not fully considered—from the efficiency of its processing facility and the adequacy of production equipment to staff development, packaging, branding, and market expansion. With these insights, BABAFAC gained a clearer direction, one that positions the cooperative to become more organized, competitive, and sustainable. The KMME Program, a flagship initiative of DTI and Go Negosyo, has mentored thousands of MSMEs across the country, helping entrepreneurs strengthen their business models and scale their operations.
A Roadmap for Growth and Sustainability
Looking ahead, BABAFAC has laid out concrete plans for its next phase of development. The cooperative aims to establish an FDA-ready processing facility, a critical step toward ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance. It also plans to improve production through appropriate equipment, develop its workforce through regular training, and expand its market reach through stronger branding, improved packaging and labeling, digital platforms, trade fairs, agricultural exhibits, and partnerships with groceries, supermarkets, tourism establishments, and institutional buyers. For the farmers of Balangbalang, these plans represent more than just business growth—they represent a path toward shared prosperity, where every harvest contributes to the well-being of the entire community.
