San Jose, Occidental Mindoro — The R. Benniec Fisherfolks and Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (RBENFAGCO) has strengthened its organic fruit wine enterprise and expanded livelihood opportunities for its members through the Biodiversity-friendly Enterprise (BDFE) grant under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project- Mindooro Biodiversity Corridor (MBC). The cooperative’s progress and experience as a BDFE grantee were highlighted during an interview by representatives of the MBC Project Management Unit (PMU) on May 27, 2026, at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
RBENFAGCO is a community-based cooperative composed of 111 members, including 90 IPs (41 male and 49 female) and 21 non- IPs (10 male and 11 female), working together to promote sustainable livelihoods while conserving natural resources. The cooperative is engaged in the production of premium organic fruit wines made from locally grown fruits in Mindoro, including mulberry, guyabano, turmeric, sugarcane, and other locally available agricultural products. In addition to its wine enterprise, the cooperative also operates a community sari-sari store, providing an additional source of income for its members.
Mr. Jerard Monterey, Quality Control and Establishment Representative of the RBENFAGCO, shared that before becoming a BDFE grantee, the cooperative’s members primarily relied on farming, fishing, and small-scale fruit production for their livelihoods. These activities often generated only enough income to meet their families’ daily needs. Employment opportunities within the community were limited, while many harvested fruits went to waste because of insufficient market access and the lack of processing facilities. Financial constraints also prevented the community from implementing livelihood projects that could improve their economic condition.
According to Mr. Monterey, the cooperative became a BDFE grantee through its partnership with the DENR and by participating in orientation sessions and seminars conducted for community-based organizations. Through the BDFE financial assistance, RBENFAGCO was able to acquire essential equipment for its organic fruit wine enterprise, including a fabricated 300-liter stainless steel wine fermentation tank, a heavy-duty 2,100-watt industrial-grade electric mixer, carboy containers, three-way airlocks for fermentation, and 750-mL glass bottles, along with production materials and ingredients. These investments improved the cooperative’s production process by allowing them to ferment larger batches of wine under more controlled and sanitary conditions, mix ingredients more efficiently, and store products properly during fermentation. As a result, the cooperative was able to enhance the consistency and quality of its organic fruit wines, increase production capacity, sustain regular operations, and provide additional livelihood opportunities for its members.
Beyond improving livelihood opportunities, the grant has encouraged the community to adopt a stronger sense of responsibility in managing their natural resources. This shift in perspective has reinforced the importance of ensuring that livelihood activities remain sustainable while protecting the environment. He explained, “Mas naging mulat ang aming komunidad sa kahalagahan ng pangangalaga sa kalikasan. Mas naging responsable ang mga tao sa paggamit ng likas na yaman dahil naiintindihan nilang dito rin nanggagaling ang aming kabuhayan.” This reflects the community’s growing commitment to balancing economic development with environmental conservation.
This story is published under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project “Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 🫐🍷
