ADB, JBIC release P200M for agrarian reform projects

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija — A combined P200 billion worth of developmental aid have been released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for various projects under the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP) over the past four years.

Linda Hermogino, assistant regional director for Central Luzon of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), told The STAR that the two international lending banks released at least P100 billion each.

For this year alone, the ADB released P24.5 million for ARCP packages in the town of San Isidro and in this town.

Hermogino was one of those who presided over the ground-breaking ceremonies for the construction of the P12-million, 3.08-kilometer long farm-to-market road in barangays Sta. Isabela and Bagong Sikat here last Wednesday.

The ground-breaking rites were also graced by Gov. Tomas Joson III, ADB area manager for Luzon Edgardo Grafilo and Mayor Gloria Congco among other officials.

Congco said that the ARCP package in the town which also includes provisions for irrigation projects, is worth P60 million, of which 20 percent comes from the municipal government and the provincial government.

The ARCP is intended to benefit the so-called agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in the region. ARCs refer to depressed areas which have a heavy concentration of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Central Luzon has a total of 120 ARCs, 31 of which are in Nueva Ecija.

Despite the huge funding extended by the JBIC and the ADB, Hermogino said there is a slowdown in the release this year in the light of the fact that the government could not put enough equity to push through with ARCP projects in the region.