The Jackfruit Development Enterprise (JaDE) sub-project of Baybay City, Leyte successfully underwent the NPCO – PSO – RPCO Joint Technical Review (JTR) held on 20 – 21 January 2026, marking another major milestone in the project’s advancement under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

The two-day activity served as a comprehensive platform for technical assessment, validation, and refinement of the JaDE proposal, ensuring its alignment with PRDP guidelines, value chain objectives, and market-driven enterprise principles. Participants included representatives from the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), Project Support Office (PSO), Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO), concerned technical units, and the proponent group.

During the first day of the JTR, the proponent presented the rationale, overview, and key findings of the Jackfruit Development Enterprise, highlighting its role in addressing production, processing, and marketing constraints in the local jackfruit value chain. Technical discussions focused on enterprise viability, operational strategies, and compliance with PRDP requirements. Breakout presentations from the IPLAN, GGU, and MEL teams further examined planning, safeguards, and monitoring aspects of the sub-project.

On the second day, the review continued with in-depth discussions on procurement arrangements, I-BUILD infrastructure components, SES, ECON, and I-REAP interventions, allowing reviewers to assess the readiness and sustainability of the proposed investments. Constructive feedback and recommendations were provided to further strengthen the business plan, implementation mechanisms, and risk management strategies.

The successful conduct of the JTR underscored the technical soundness and development potential of the JaDE sub-project, which aims to upscale vacuum-fried jackfruit processing through clustering and consolidation of farmer-producers in Baybay City and nearby municipalities. Once implemented, the enterprise is expected to improve farmers’ incomes, generate employment, and enhance the competitiveness of Leyte’s flagship fruit in both local and national markets.

With the successful conduct of the activity, the JaDE sub-project moves a step closer to realization, reinforcing PRDP’s commitment to promoting inclusive, market-oriented agri-enterprises that contribute to sustainable rural development in Eastern Visayas.